Opus scores Malaysian contract

By DITA DE BONI

Kiwi roading specialist Opus International Consultants has secured a multi-million contract to oversee maintenance on three Malaysian expressways.

The Wellington-based company will not reveal its fee, but says work on the five-year contract will begin on Monday and will create 40 jobs for Malaysians and expatriates in Kuala Lumpur.

The three expressways include the recently-opened north-south highway that runs the length of Malaysia and second bridge crossing between Malaysia and Singapore.

Economic recession in Asia had wound down the company's Kuala Lumpur office to just one worker before the expressway work was won, but the Malaysian scoop comes at the end of a year of high-profile success for Opus nonetheless.

It won a major highway contract in Britain in March after completing design work on two underground railway stations , including Europe's largest at Canada Water in the South Thames area.

A Western Australian contract is also in the offing, with further opportunities identified across the Tasman, says chief executive John Rutledge.

The Malaysian contract will boost the company's overseas workforce to 90 of around 1150 workers, and is a further step towards what Mr Rutledge hopes will mean doubled exports for Opus.

"Opus has been awarded a number of similar contracts in New Zealand, having won nine of the 10 we bid on last year," he says.

"We would think that as a result of the work we've been doing, we will soon be recognised worldwide."

Mr Rutledge concedes having Malaysian owners did not hurt the company's chances of securing the expressway contracts.

Opus is fully owned by Malaysian listed construction and works management company Kinta Kellas.

Opus - formerly the New Zealand Ministry of Works and Development - was sold to Malaysian interests three years ago when roading was restructured.