The George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture denies that it has failed the technical evaluation before winning the close to RM1 billion Ampang LRT extension line project.

In a statement late today, George Kent's executive director Cheong Thiam Fook said that George Kent has "proven engineering experience and project management skills" to complete the project.

"We strongly refute the baseless allegations that George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture failed the full technical and commercial evaluations.

"There is also absolutely no question that George Kent has a healthy balance sheet and is in a strong cash position, as our audited figures would show," he said.

Cheong, who was general manager for the contractor responsible for the first two phases of the Ampang LRT line, added their bid for the project was "fully compliant with tender conditions including all technical and commercial requirements".

He added that George Kent has good track record in the construction industry and has delivered in many other "complex" projects.

"We have successfully delivered large projects on time and on budget, such as the construction and design of the new Kuala Lipis Hospital valued at RM100 million, which we recently completed on time, on budget and with zero variation orders.

"We, together with our consortium partners, will soon also complete construction of the technically complex RM318 million inter-state raw water transfer project, Semantan Intake and Pumping Station Works," he said.

'Instruction' from Prasarana

He said the experience puts the joint venture in a good position to complete the project within 44 months.

NONE Cheong was responding to claims by PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli ( right ) that the George Kent consortium had failed technical evaluation for the bid.

Rafizi backed his claim by providing media with purported copies of an excerpt of a report by engineering consultant Halcrow, which showed that the George Kent-Wijet-Thales consortium had scored poorly in the technical evaluation.

However, Halcrow in the report noted that the consortium was allowed to proceed to the next stage upon "instruction" from Prasarana.

The excerpt does not mention a George Kent-Lion Pacific joint venture.

DAP's Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua also questioned the award by casting doubt on  a company which posted a yearend Jan 31, 2012 profit of RM19.3 million could undertake a project worth close to RM1 billion.