Category Archives: University Issues

Will the RM160b for the Malaysia 1st high speed train project goes mainly to buy the foreign technology?

Posted on by
Reply

The plan to build a high speed train system connecting Singapore and Kuala Lumpur is seem to be finalised and realized soon. Malaysia is said willing to spent RM160 billion for this project (http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/business/article/malaysia-to-spend-rm160-billion-on-rail-projects-including-high-speed-train) as it’ll enhance the Malaysia economic activities.

Many componies, locally and oversies, have shown an interest on this project, as reported on http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2013/10/05/China-shows-interest-in-KLSingapore-highspeed-rail-project.aspx “MMC Corp Bhd, which may team up with Gamuda Bhd and Chinese and European system integrators and YTL Corp Bhd with Spanish bullet train maker Talgo or CAF. Other firms are UEM Group Bhd, which is working with Ara Group to form a consortium with European companies that may also include Talgo, while Global Rail is said to be talking to Canada’s Bombardier Inc and Chinese firm China Railway Group.”

Previously, I reported my concern for the local experts to take part actively on this project https://people.utm.my/dr-sukri/2013/07/31/malaysias-high-speed-train-plan-should-utilise-local-experts/ and to date my concern is still the same.

Recently, Japan’s prime ministry has STRONGLY requested for Malaysia to choose Shikansen technology (http://www.mb.com.ph/japan-pm-talks-up-bullet-train-to-malaysia/). Not to forget that Chinese and Korean have already shown an interest earlier  (http://investvine.com/kl-singapore-high-speed-link-to-kick-off/).

Is Malaysia really need a foreign technology to build it own High Speed Train system??

 

Malaysia set to spend US$50b to develop rail network (http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/malaysia-set-to-spend-us/809918.html)

Posted on by
Reply

MALAYSIA: Malaysia plans to spend a staggering US$50 billion to develop its rail network over the next seven years, including a high-speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore set for 2020, and the urban mass rapid transit system that is rolling out in 2017.

Compared to developed countries where rail transport makes up a third of public transportation, Malaysia’s share is less than 4 per cent.

People here rely heavily on roads because existing train services are slow and train journeys are time consuming. However with spiralling land and fuel costs, limited space and traffic congestion, rail transportation is seeing a revival.

Prime Minister Najib Razak recently announced big plans for the country at a global rail conference. Mr Najib said: “Once considered a dying industry, railroads have made a strong comeback and are poised to become busier passageways in the years ahead.”

According to the land public transport commission (SPAD), the government has allocated almost US$50 billion for rail-related projects – three times more than what it spent in the last two decades.

The MY Rapid Transit (MRT), when fully operational, will cover a distance of 150 kilometres and provide half of the public transport services in the Klang Valley.

Commuter train services will also be expanded with the electrified double track railway. Spanning 1,000 kilometres from Padang Besar in the north, to Johor Bahru in the south, the project is expected to cost the government over US$13 billion.

Despite the massive cost overruns and project delays, KTM, as well as the government, want the electrified double track rail to be ready two years ahead of the scheduled completion of the high-speed rail linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore by year 2018.

Mr Syed Hamid Albar, SPAD chairman, said: “It’s not a competition… I think we are looking at people, the sector we are looking at generally is people who may like to go by flight for long distances (but not for short distances). But not everybody likes to go on fast trains, because fast trains there will be different cost elements. So I think both can be complementary.”

Still there has been much buzz about the high-speed rail link. It will have a 90-minute express service every hour, as well as three transit services lasting less than two hours.

Tickets will be priced below that of budget airlines.

Malaysia’s technical team will engage its Singapore counterpart next month. Negotiations may take up to 12 months before the tender process begins. Construction is expected to begin by 2015, before the scheduled take off in 2020.

OpenFOAM Roadshow 01-2013

Posted on by
Reply

Thanks to Dr. Azli of UiTM for hosting the 1st OpenFOAM roadshow for Malaysia CFD community. It was a successful event with the spirit to spread the awareness and usage of Free and Open Source Software. Thanks also goes to the participants (uni. staff and industry) who have committed to form a strong OpenFOAM discussion group in Malaysia.

Let me know if you like to join our discussion group.

 

Malaysia’s High Speed Train Plan Should Utilise Local Experts

Posted on by
Reply

Malaysia is currently under a rapid development and the target for Malaysia to achieve a developed nation status by 2020 is hardly deniable. Under the 12 National Key Economic Areas for Malaysia engine economic growth and also under the Urban Public Transport National Key Results Area (NKRA) to ease the traffic congestion problems in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is committed to build a high speed train system between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

In February 19, 2013, Singapore and Malaysia announced plans to build the rail link by 2020, which would cut travel time for the 350 kilometres (220 miles) between the city-state and Kuala Lumpur by more than half (4 hours by air including travel to and from the airports, check-in, boarding and other airport procedures) to 90 minutes.

To build a good high speed train system, Malaysia requires a large group of expert from many fields (Eng.,Acct,Manag,Law and etc). If not, Malaysia probably just need to buy the technology, but I hope not and we should grow the local experts. [News: Japan on 25 July 2013 offered Malaysia the technology to build a multi-million-dollar high-speed railway and other infrastructure, as its Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began a regional tour. “Malaysia and Japan agree to cooperate in high technology with Japan providing the technology in the construction of high-speed rail, water and waste treatment,” Abe told reporters at a press conference with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak.]

 

 

 

Vortex Induced Vibration

Posted on by
Reply

For the last few days I’ve tried to simulate flow over a circular cylinder at Re=22k using OpenFOAM. The cylinder is attached to a mass-damping system in one degree of freedom (cross-stream). The simulation only success when the natural frequency of the system is high, omega_o >= 2 x vortex shedding frequency. I believe that I need to work out on the resonant response of the system.

Basic OpenFOAM workshop

Posted on by
Reply

BrochureCFD_workshop

 

Dear All,

Thank you for your support and participations at the Basic OpenFOAM workshop. We’re planning to organise a series of similar workshop (increase in complexity) in the near future. Please be updated with any news on this. Our aim is to promote the use of OpenFOAM locally and providing a platform for discussion and knowledge sharing among the OpenFOAM community in Malaysia. If you have suggestion on how we can go for that, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email.

 

Cheers,

Mohamed Sukri Mat Ali (MJIIT) and Low Lee Leong (UNITEN)

Tel: +603- 22031286

Two papers about passive flow and noise control have been accepted for publications

Posted on by
Reply

A simple but effective passive wake and noise control for bluff body applications, e.g., high rise buildings, side view mirror of passenger cars, landing gear system of aircrafts and etc., can be made practically possible by introducing a small flat plate downstream of the bluff bodies. [International Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, and AIAA Journal]

Malaysia, Japan commemorate 30th anniversary of Look East Policy, The Star,Wednesday March 14, 2012 MYT

Posted on by
Reply

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda have exchanged special messages to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Malaysia’s Look East Policy.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said both prime ministers described the policy as a testament to the close bond of friendship and partnership between Malaysia and Japan.

“Both sides have also expressed the hope that the recently established Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology in Kuala Lumpur would significantly develop as a centre of excellence in engineering education, not only in Malaysia but also for the Asean region,” it said.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the policy, which was introduced in 1982 by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The Look East Policy’s main objective was to acquire technological know-how, work ethics and good work values, which are seen to be among of the ingredients for the success of the developed countries in East Asia, especially Japan.

Some 15,000 Malaysians have benefited under the policy, through studies and training at Japanese universities and companies, especially in sectors that require advanced technical skills and technology. – Bernama