THE announcement by Prasarana chairperson Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to compensate the 213 victims of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Monday’s crash – each with a mere RM1,000 – has received brickbats from netizens.
The manner in which Tajuddin as a chairman and a politician handled the matter as well as his conduct during the media conference regarding the mishap left much to be desired, not to mention drove many up the wall.
On why he wasn’t at the scene immediately after the incident, Tajuddin who is also the MP for Pasir Salak said he was being informed “a little late” (of the crash) and that was why he decided to go to the location “first thing in the morning” instead.
On top of that, his attempt at humour – that both ill-fated trains “kissed each other” – was inappropriate, to say the least.
However, a political leader has advised the victims to accept the RM1,000 initial compensation despite it not being the initial amount that victims are entitled to receive.
“I would advise all 213 passengers in the train to accept the RM1,000 initial compensation, but not sign any document that later excludes them from pursuing further claims of losses caused by the accident,” Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said.
The worst in its 23-year history
On Monday night, a manually driven LRT train on the Kelana Jaya line collided with an automated one in a tunnel between KLCC and Kg Baru stations, leaving 47 seriously hurt and another 166 with light injuries.
The occupied train was operating automatically while the unoccupied train from Kampung Baru was being driven by a hostler who took over after the automated train operation (ATO) system timed out. The train was supposed to proceed south, heading to Dang Wangi station, but somehow it proceeded north instead.
The collision – the first LRT train crash which has resulted in serious injuries since operations in 1998 – has also resulted in three of the 47 seriously injured passengers being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for brain haemorrhage.
The busiest metro line in Malaysia with 37 stations, the Kelana Jaya line facilitated the commuting of almost 300,000 passengers on a working day during the pre COVID-19 period.
The investigation
A task force has been formed by the Transport Ministry to probe on the crash and investigation will be conducted under Section 201 of the Land and Transport Act 2010.
According to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, a preliminary investigation by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) into the head-on collision between two LRT trains has indicated that driver negligence was the cause of the accident.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the accident was the result of carelessness of the hostler who drove TR40 in the wrong direction,” he told a media conference yesterday.
While a drug test performed on the hostler has turned out negative, the task force has been given two weeks to complete its investigation. – May 26, 2021
Photo credit: Firdaus Latif (Malay Mail)
