[UPDATED] Kelana Jaya LRT chaos: Transport Ministry not ruling out sabotage

SUBANG – The Transport Ministry is looking into every possible element, including sabotage, on the LRT Kelana Jaya line, which has halted service between the Ampang Park to Kelana Jaya stations.

Caretaker transport minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said an independent team of investigators has been appointed by Prasarana Malaysia Bhd (Prasarana) to scrutinise the failure of the automatic train control (ATC) system.

“I was informed that Prasarana has hired a reputable consultant to look into every possible aspect, including the act of sabotage, and they have already begun the probe since yesterday,” he told The Vibes after a press conference at the Rapid Rail depot today.

Wee was responding to The Vibes report today quoting first Prasarana CEO Datuk Ridza Abdoh Salleh, who raised the possibility of sabotage as a cause of the LRT line’s current problems. 

Ridza spoke about the human resources woes and unhappiness within Prasarana and had also penned a note on LinkedIn about the matter.

Wee said he has already given out instructions to Prasarana to look into any probable cause whether the ATC and train signalling system was compromised from within.

“I asked Prasarana not to rule out the possibility of sabotage. 

“At the moment, Prasarana and Rapid Rail’s main focus is to ensure we can resume the LRT services in the next couple of days,” said Wee. 

“I also asked them to review all standard operating procedures while we resolve other issues based on findings.”

He said that several tests and trial runs have been conducted every night since Wednesday until the wee hours of the morning. 

“A full day test will be conducted tomorrow. The tests have been using the diagnostic tools and one component of the power supply automatic device…because there’s a concern that the power supply may have some issues,” Wee said, adding that four experts from Thales Toronto and Singapore are here to investigate the matter.

The tests conducted so far have been encouraging, Wee said, adding that he was optimistic the LRT service will resume soon.

“It will all depend on the result of the full-day test during the weekend.”

“I have also established a committee, which is headed by the ministry’s secretary-general, and it has already suggested 23 points, one of which is to replace the ATC system. We are also in the process to replace the 30 original equipment manufacturers (OEMs),” he said.

Wee added that the upgrading work as a back-up to the current system valued at RM150 million was underway.

On the independent consultants engaged by Prasarana, Wee said they are from WSP.

Checks by The Vibes found that the firm is headquartered in London, founded more than 125 years ago, and specialises in train control, railway signalling, traction power systems, rolling stock engineering and procurement, communications, elevated structure design, and engineering, track design, and operations planning and simulations.

In April 2020, WSP’s consultancy work on a California bullet train project led to an investigation by the California High-Speed Rail Authority. 

The Los Angeles Times subsequently reported cost overruns on the project from US$64 billion to US$77 billion, which was investigated by the criminal division of the US Transportation Department’s inspector-general.

Asked why there was no technology transfer which meant Prasarana still had to rely on help from foreign experts, Wee said: “Thales is the rail system’s OEM and I am not saying that we don’t have local experts.

“Our local team has been trained by the OEM over the years and when the system involves the manufacturer, they can help to retrieve the data log.”

The caretaker transport minister also confirmed refunds to My50 pass holders, which will be announced by Prasarana after service resumes.

“At the moment, it looks like it (the refund) will be (for) the days that the public couldn’t use the service,” he said.

He also refused to entertain questions from reporters about calls for the Prasarana president and chief executive officer, as well as Rapid KL engineers, to step down. 

“I am here to solve problems and not to talk about such calls,” Wee said. – The Vibes, November 11, 2022