KUALA LUMPUR – KTM Berhad (KTMB) has suspended staff members with immediate effect after its passenger train failed to pick up 100 school students at the Kuala Gris train stop in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, early this morning.
Expressing serious regret over the matter, the railway company confirmed the incident which caused the students to be unable to attend their first day of the third schooling semester today.
In a statement, the railway company said further investigation is currently being conducted with disciplinary action to be taken if findings revealed negligence on the part of its staff.
KTMB determined from its investigations so far that its Shuttle Timuran No 51 train, which departed from the Tumpat station at 4.05am, failed to halt at the Kuala Gris stop at 7.08am.
“KTMB regrets that the incident involved 100 students from SMK Dabong that just began their schooling session today.
“As such, KTMB apologises to the students, parents and school management involved, and regrets the incident.”
The apology comes after reports of the 100 students left stranded at the train stop went viral across social media.
The incident forced the students to miss their first day of school.
According to Sinar Harian, students began to head home after 30 minutes following the train delay.
It is learnt that rural students would usually prefer to take a train ride to the school, which would take 17 minutes compared to opting for a 10km-drive lasting 25 minutes.
School student, Siti Masitah Mat Nasir, 18, said while she was up as early as 5am to head to school, the train’s failure to stop forced her to return home as her parents had left for work already. – The Vibes, January 9, 2022
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