THE resumption of Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s (KLIA) Aerotrain service has been delayed to prioritise passenger safety, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Speaking at a media preview in Sepang, Loke emphasised that operations cannot proceed until all safety protocols and critical tests are fully verified, stating, “Our priority is safety. If the tests have not been conducted or they haven’t passed, we definitely cannot approve it.”
“Who would be responsible if I opened the service without all the proper tests being conducted?” he said.
“We do not deny there was a delay from what we initially expected. As a technical regulator, the ministry must ensure that passenger safety comes first. We will not allow any operations until we are fully satisfied it is safe for use,” he added.
He acknowledged the delays, initially expected to be resolved by January 2025, with the first train planned for July 2024 and full service by March 2025.
The service has been suspended since March 2023 due to multiple breakdowns, including incidents on Feb 27 and March 1, 2023, where passengers were stranded. Loke noted that the current shuttle bus service, implemented as a stopgap, will continue as a backup until the Aerotrain system stabilises. — June 21, 2025
Main photo credit: Bernama
