AN MCA leader has urged the government to tackle recurring LRT and MRT disruptions, warning that unreliable public transport could damage Malaysia’s reputation ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026 and October’s Formula 1 event at Sepang.
Its Tourism Bureau chairman Lawrence Chiew Kai Heng said frequent breakdowns affected not only daily commuters but also tourists who relied on rail services to reach hotels, attractions and transport hubs.
“Malaysia should not become famous for its frequent LRT and MRT breakdowns. These services are supposed to be the backbone of public transport for Malaysians and tourists alike,” he said in a statement.
The latest call comes after several high-profile disruptions across the Klang Valley rail network this year.
In February, repeated breakdowns on the Kelana Jaya LRT Line caused major delays during the morning and evening peak periods, prompting severe congestion at interchange stations.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said he was “personally angry” over the disruptions, ordered Prasarana Malaysia Bhd to present an immediate recovery plan, and directed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to investigate recurring failures and take action if operational weaknesses were found.
In May, services on the Ampang and Sri Petaling LRT lines were suspended after a train derailed near Chan Sow Lin station.
Loke subsequently established an independent task force to investigate the incident and said maintenance procedures would continue to be reviewed to improve rail reliability.
According to Chiew, repeated disruptions undermined public confidence in Malaysia’s transport system and risked leaving visitors with a poor impression of the country.
“For tourists, a sudden train breakdown can mean missed buses, trains or flights, disrupting their entire itinerary,” he observed.
He said the concern was particularly timely as Malaysia prepared for Visit Malaysia 2026 and the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix in Malaysia at Sepang in October, marking Formula 1’s return to the circuit for the first time since 2017.
“We cannot spend millions promoting Malaysia as a world-class destination only to have our public transport system let visitors down,” he stressed.
Chiew said local commuters also continued to bear the cost of unreliable services, with workers arriving late, missing appointments and facing difficulties with employers.
Students, particularly those sitting for major examinations such as the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), should not have to worry about missing school or examination centres because of rail disruptions, he added.
He urged the Transport Ministry, Prasarana and relevant agencies to strengthen preventive maintenance, conduct a comprehensive review of recurring breakdowns and ensure emergency response plans were activated quickly whenever disruptions occurred.
“The government has invested heavily in public transport infrastructure. Malaysians deserve a system that is safe, efficient, reliable and responsive when problems occur,” he remarked.
Chiew said reliable public transport had to be treated as a national priority if Malaysia wanted to strengthen both commuter confidence and its standing as a leading tourism destination. ‒ Aug 20, 2026
Main image: Bernama
