Let independent experts probe crash, release CCTV footage, say MPs
PETALING JAYA: Opposition MPs have urged Putrajaya to carry out an independent probe by appointing experts and releasing video footage of the LRT train crash three days ago. PKR MP Maria Chin Abdullah said an independent task force was needed to ensure accountability and transparency, and prevent “suspicion of a…
PETALING JAYA: Opposition MPs have urged Putrajaya to carry out an independent probe by appointing experts and releasing video footage of the LRT train crash three days ago.
PKR MP Maria Chin Abdullah said an independent task force was needed to ensure accountability and transparency, and prevent “suspicion of a possible cover-up”.
She said the members of the task force must be independent of the transport ministry and Prasarana Malaysia Berhad, which operates the LRT trains.
Maria said they must be “renowned experts” in transportation, legal matters, and in the technical aspects of the crash.
The investigation report must also be tabled in Parliament “as the public deserves to know the truth”, the Petaling Jaya MP said.
“The government must not hide behind the Official Secrets Act and should table the full report as a Cabinet paper.
“The public demands answers. It affects the livelihood of the hardworking people on the ground who depend on public transport. Their lives matter and must be our paramount concern.”
Maria also wanted answers on the management of automatic and manual trains, the SOPs for trains during testing, the hierarchy of authority during the operations, and management of train schedules and testing.
“These questions need to be answered as millions of people depend on public transport every day. Its safety to the users is of topmost priority,” she said.
Task force composition
The government has set up a task force to investigate the crash. It will be chaired by Isham Ishak, the transport ministry’s secretary-general. The deputy chairman will be Normah Osman, the ministry’s deputy chief secretary for policy.
Other ministry officers on the task force are secretary of the land division Wan Mohd Asraf Salleh, legal adviser Azlin Sabtu and head inspector of air transport accidents Izani Ismail.
There is also an expert panel within the task force. Its members are:
The secretariat for the task force will be managed by Mohd Shahriman Shafein, head director for trains in the ministry’s land division.
Why is senior management not sacked?
In a separate statement, Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said while Prasarana’s chairman Tajuddin Abdul Rahman had been sacked with immediate effect following “his boorish performance during a press conference”, his remarks that the two trains “kissed each other” in the tunnel “had left many stones unturned”.
“We want to know what happened before and during the accident on May 24. The 213 passengers involved in the train crash and their families want a fair investigation to find out the cause of the accident,” the DAP MP said.
He said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and transport minister Wee Ka Siong need to explain why the authorities failed to suspend the senior management staff who could either be directly or indirectly responsible for the crash.
Drastic action has to be taken in the interest of transparency and good corporate governance to prevent any undesirable hindrance in investigations, Lim said.
“A thorough investigation is crucial, and supported by CCTV video footage recorded before and during the collision, especially footage inside the train driver’s cabin as well as the control centre.
“There is no excuse not to show the public what led to the collision. The passengers deserve to know the truth.
“The video recording would provide answers on what transpired, before and during the crash,” he said. — Free Malaysia Today