PETALING JAYA: The quick action of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong on the LRT Kelana Jaya line train collision should be commended but any investigation into the incident must be conducted transparently, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for Safe Community chairman expressed his sorrow that the LRT’s safety record of more than 20 years had been broken by the train accident that caused injuries on Monday (May 24).
However, Lee said Prasarana, which operates the rail service, had to be commended for quickly resuming services between the affected stations in Kampung Baru and KLCC while Dr Wee should also be complimented for his leadership by visiting the accident site to assess the damage.
“The investigation must also be conducted in a transparent manner. There must be no cover-up.
“Although Dr Wee had announced the setting up of a special committee in his Ministry to investigate the incident, it would have been more appropriate for such an investigation to be carried out by an independent agency and for the results to be made public,” he said in a statement Tuesday (May 25).
Lee believed that the investigation could be completed within a week as there were not many variables in the incident.
Lee also called for the setting up of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as it would be able to investigate all transport-related accidents by air, rail, sea or road, without fear or favour, and without any vested interest.
On Monday night, a train under manual control that was undergoing testing was involved in a head-on collision with another carrying 213 passengers along the LRT Kelana Jaya line between the KLCC and Kampung Baru stations.
A total of 166 people suffered minor injuries while 47 suffered severe injuries in the incident.
Upon hearing of the accident, Dr Wee had rushed to the scene where he had said that an immediate investigation would be made into the collision involving the two LRT trains.
Prasarana has also said that it will be giving RM1,000 in special assistance each to the 213 passengers.
