YESTERDAY evening, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook rode the Kelana Jaya Light Rapid Transit (LRT) line.
But it was not your typical turun padang session – in true spot-check manner, he made an unannounced visit of the line during the peak hours between 5pm and 7pm today in order to obtain a first-hand understanding of its issues.
Having traded his suit and tie for a black cap and black face mask, the Seremban MP was pictured standing in a packed train without an entourage.
He was also pictured with a non-functioning elevator, trying out the lift and inspecting a roof leak at the MRT Muzium Negara station, which connects to the LRT at KL Sentral.
In a Facebook post, Loke said he spent two hours to see for himself the real situation of the LRT Kelana Jaya Line during peak hours and said that he did not inform Prasarana management and the media as he wanted to experience himself what regular commuters go through daily.
This has earned him admiration and respect from netizens, who applauded Loke for literally rolling up his sleeves and getting to work.
Twitter user @Zolazrai, for example, thanked Loke on behalf of frequent LRT users:
User @Sudheepritch said, “He just clocked in to work [for the first time today] but yesterday he has already started looking into the problem as an LRT user…salute, YB Anthony Loke. Please fix the LRT woes…pity some of us who were suddenly stranded at the station for hours.”
User @JamesBYap similarly said:
In his praise of Loke, another Twitter user couldn’t help throw shade at a certain minister who was absent from the special Cabinet meeting yesterday:
“Do this to other lines next, YB”
Meanwhile, netizens also took the opportunity to request that Loke look into other train services as well.
User @cidut560, for instance, suggested that Loke pay a visit to KTMB next:
“After LRT, hopefully Anthony Loke will drop by to visit KTMB as well. It would be great if KTMB were efficient as it covers more areas as [compared] to LRT.”
User @AmadRocky similarly said, “‘This train is waiting for signal [from the train control centre]’ blah blah. [I guess I will be] late to the office today…yesterday YB @anthonyloke rode the LRT…it’s time for him to take the komuter as well.”
Other netizens also urged Loke to look into a myriad of other related problems:
User @RossEdrace suggested that the time has come to upgrade all LRT lines to MRT.
User @KartunisGandum, meanwhile, suggested that Loke organise a day trip to Singapore with the LRT management and officers to see how SMRT Corporation – the multi-modal public transport operator operating bus and rail services in Singapore – operates while taking notes on steps to take should the train services get suspended. – Dec 6, 2022
Main pic credit: Facebook | Anthony Loke Siew Fook
