KUALA LUMPUR – The preliminary report from the investigation committee on the Kelana Jaya line LRT collision will be submitted to cabinet tomorrow.
The report, which contains findings related to the cause of the May 24 incident as well as recommendations for the future, has been sent to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, who is perusing it.
“I am satisfied that the report compiled by the nine-member committee led by our Ministry of Transport secretary-general was indeed professionally done, comprehensive in its details, and completed within the 14-day period given to them,” Wee said in a Facebook post today.
“Kudos and congratulations to the team for their tireless efforts, and burning the midnight oil these few days, including going to the ground at the Kelana Jaya OCC (operation control centre), going through the simulations, interviews, and poring through the guidelines and documents.”
“I look forward to presenting their findings to cabinet on Wednesday, 9th June 2021, with several recommendations to bridge the gaps in the safety and standard operating procedures for Rapid Rail’s trains.”
Wee added that he is still studying the documents and findings given by the committee.
He stressed that the findings and recommendations go beyond just improving the services of LRT operator Rapid Rail, and will go a long way towards improving Malaysia’s entire rail service infrastructure in the long term.
Rapid Rail is a subsidiary of Prasarana Malaysia, overseeing five lines that collectively form the Rapid KL transit (electric railway) system.
The day after the incident, Wee was reported to have said that initial investigations found the accident was due to the negligence of the hostler of one of the trains, who drove it in the wrong direction.
While this particular train was not carrying any passengers, the train coming from the opposite direction that it crashed with was on automatic mode with 213 passengers on board.
There were no fatalities.
On June 1, Prasarana acting president and group chief executive Datin Norlia Noah said that Prasarana had started issuing goodwill payments, as a one-off special financial assistance for the passengers.
She had also confirmed that the family of an LRT crash victim had sent a legal notice to Prasarana, demanding that the rail operator pays RM1.8 million in damages for the injuries he suffered.
Wong Chee Foong sought RM1.8 million for medical expenses, physical damage, mental and emotional stress, trauma, loss of income, special and general damages, and negligence. – The Vibes, June 8, 2021
