Where’s our refund? Commuters fume at week-long LRT service suspension

KUALA LUMPUR – The hastily announced seven-day closure of the 16 LRT stations between Kelana Jaya and Ampang Park has Klang Valley commuters fuming as thousands depend on the service daily.

Many have taken to social media to vent and ask for a refund for their monthly pass, especially in accounts belonging to operator RapidRail Sdn Bhd, and some shared their plight of not having more affordable commute options.

This is a national emergency, people are expected to be at work on time, not enough WFH, people need to travel for medical reasons, people who don't own cars, who can't drive, who can't afford Grab.

This is an assault against the poor. When we fighting back? https://t.co/DvJHFdWOF6

— Nash (@ViggyStrdust) November 8, 2022

A Twitter user known as @ViggyStrdust has labelled the temporary service halt as “a national emergency”.

“...people are expected to be at work on time, not enough WFH, people need to travel for medical reasons, people who don’t own cars, who can’t drive, who can’t afford Grab.

“This is an assault against the poor. When we fighting back? (sic)”

Time for a class action suit. How does @AskRapidKL get away with this shit service and now disrupting millions and causing losses, without consequences?! https://t.co/r6DhUwxmcQ

— Nivetha (நிவேதா ஸ்ரீ ஷங்கர்) ??? (@NivethaShanker) November 9, 2022

Another user @NivethaShanker said it is” time for a class action suit. 

“How does @AskRapidKL get away with this s*** service and now disrupting millions and causing losses, without consequences?!”

Wow, 7 days! This would really be a huge disruption for folks working & living in the Klang Valley. A mere explanation is not enough. Hope there's some temporary alternative for those who depend on public transportation. https://t.co/FSUiQsn2yt

— Christopher Lee (@chriskc_Lee) November 9, 2022

Others such as @chriskc_Lee said that a “mere explanation” of this huge disruption is not enough and demanded for some temporary alternatives for those who depend on public transportation.

“Prasarana needs to be more responsible. This issue has become the new norm. We cannot afford to keep facing this problem as it has not only caused a public outcry but also a loss in productivity.”https://t.co/XQ02o5EZvc

The CEO should resign.@transitmy @weekasiongmp https://t.co/5YgWrUqS26

— Save Malaysia ?? (@twitmsian) November 9, 2022

Meanwhile, @twitmsian said recurring LRT service issues are becoming the “new norm” and that parent company Prasarana Malaysia Bhd “needs to be more responsible” as well as calling for the CEO to resign.

“We cannot afford to keep facing this problem as it has not only caused a public outcry but also a loss in productivity,” tweeted the user while tagging former transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

However, among the frustrated comments are a handful of Malaysians offering to carpool with stranded commuters.

User @asmahamidah__ tweeted that she is offering to carpool with women passengers to ease her cost of parking in KL while user @ChaaAhmad offered to carpool from Menara Milenium here to the city centre or the nearest monorail or KTM station.

According to Prasarana’s ridership report, the Kelana Jaya LRT line is the busiest of its four rail services, by far.

In September, the Kelana Jaya LRT line recorded a ridership of 5,456,094, followed by 4,508,174 using the Kajang MRT line.

Today, RapidRail is holding a press conference to address the service disruption at 10.30am.

In the wee hours of today, RapidRail announced that LRT services for 16 stations between Kelana Jaya and Ampang Park have been shut down for seven days, beginning from today, following two days of service disruption.

The latest development comes following reports of service disruption between the KLCC and Kelana Jaya stations yesterday afternoon and the day before. – The Vibes, November 9, 2022