29/05/2026

FRIDAY | MAY 29, 2026

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Rail woes risk pushing commuters back to cars

Action to be taken over LRT derailment

PETALING JAYA: Repeated rail disruptions in the Klang Valley risk eroding public confidence in the mass transit system and could drive commuters back to private vehicles despite worsening congestion and rising travel costs. The latest service interruptions have renewed scrutiny over both operational reliability and the long-term governance of the rail network, with experts saying ongoing expansion must be matched by stronger maintenance systems and lifecycle planning. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua said continued investment in rail infrastructure remains necessary as urban demand is expected to rise over the next decade. “It is critical that Malaysia continue expanding its rail systems to mitigate traffic congestion and growing demand over the next 10 years or so. “At the same time, expansion must never happen without proper regard for sustainability,” he said. Law added that reliability is central to sustaining ridership and public trust in rail transport. “Such disruptions could pose a real threat to the reputation of the entire public transport system. “This will cause people to stop using it altogether in favour of private vehicles despite worsening traffic congestion and the higher costs of driving around the city,” he said. He also said rapid expansion without sufficient operational preparation has created difficulties in other countries, particularly in managing increasingly complex rail assets. “Too often in other countries, fast-paced expansion results in financial, organisational and technical challenges related to operations management, spare parts procurement and scheduling because these processes are unable to keep up with the increased scope of assets in operation,” he said. He added that lifecycle management of infrastructure is often overlooked during the expansion phase. Commenting on yesterday’s disruption in the Klang Valley rail network caused by a faulty track switch, Law said frequent incidents point to deeper structural issues within the system rather than isolated technical faults. “The recurring disruptions on routes in the Klang Valley clearly suggest potential underlying problems within the rail network.

“Modern transport systems are built around preventive and predictive maintenance, allowing them to function for decades without major breakdowns,” he added. He said frequent issues such as signal failures, rolling stock breakdowns and power supply interruptions should not be treated as normal occurrences in a well maintained system. “When such problems and similar disruptions begin occurring more frequently, it becomes quite obvious that something is wrong,” he said, adding that ageing infrastructure naturally increases maintenance complexity. Law said repeated disruptions risk shifting the issue from engineering performance to governance credibility. “Eventually, disruptions reach a point at which they go beyond mere technical malfunctions and begin causing broader systemic concerns. Any rail network in any country will face technical issues once in a while. “But when these disruptions happen regularly, the public will begin questioning not only maintenance standards but also the governance behind operations and long-term planning.” He said authorities must prioritise lifecycle-based infrastructure management, stronger preventive maintenance regimes, workforce capability development and greater transparency to rebuild public trust. “Rail infrastructure needs to be maintained with lifecycle considerations in mind. “There should be more information made available to the public regarding the condition of the system, its maintenance, disruption risks and improvement plans so that trust can be restored,” he said, adding that while expansion remains necessary, maintenance and reliability must now be given equal priority. Yesterday morning, a train on the Ampang and Sri Petaling Line derailed while passing through a track switch area near the Chan Sow Lin station, disrupting services along the affected route. Rapid KL confirmed in a statement that the incident was caused by a faulty track switch, which left the train immobilised and disrupted scheduled operations on the line. Shuttle trains and free shuttle bus services were deployed to assist affected commuters. The operator also said all 25 passengers on board were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. – By Harith Kamal especially for fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids. Beginning June, we will conduct operations and test individuals using the device,” he said after attending the agency’s Aidiladha and korban ritual event yesterday. He said the agency is now facing a new challenge involving synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, which are more dangerous than traditional drugs such as cannabis and heroin. Ruslin said the detection kits are capable of identifying fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids and cocaine used in vape liquids. – Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The Transport Ministry (MOT) has established a special task force to investigate the LRT derailment on the Ampang-Sri Petaling line, with minister Anthony Loke assuring that “maximum enforcement action” will be taken and that no one in the rail operator’s top management will be exempted from accountability. The incident near the Chan Sow Lin station occurred yesterday morning when a train derailed during operations, disrupting services along the line. o Special task force created, while minister vows ‘maximum enforcement action’ against those found negligent Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

the matter,” Loke said. He also issued a strong warning to the rail operator’s leadership, saying accountability must extend to the highest levels. “I would like to stress that the board of directors and management team of Prasarana cannot continue with a ‘business-as-usual’ attitude. “Incidents such as this must be treated with utmost seriousness and no one in Prasarana’s top management will be exempted from accountability over this incident,” he said. Loke further stressed that disciplinary action could follow depending on the outcome of the investigation. “Safety standards and the reliability of public transport services are not matters that can be compromised. “Serious action, including dismissal, must be taken by Prasarana’s board of directors against any party found negligent in carrying out their responsibilities in order to restore public confidence in the reliability of rail services operated under Prasarana.”

All 25 passengers on board were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported. However, Loke stressed that the matter is being treated as a serious safety breach rather than a routine service disruption. “A train derailment poses significant safety risks to both passengers and operational staff. “Although all 25 passengers involved in the incident were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, MOT maintains a firm stance on this matter and will not compromise on public safety issues,” he said in a statement yesterday. He added that the government had moved swiftly to establish a formal investigation mechanism. “I have directed that the findings of the investigation be submitted to the Cabinet as soon as possible and that the report be made public. “I have also instructed the Land Public Transport Agency to take the maximum possible enforcement action against Prasarana Malaysia Bhd in relation to this incident. “The agency has immediately opened an investigation paper into

Man dies after being struck by reversing car at home KUALA LUMPUR: An elderly man died after being hit by his own reversing car in an incident believed to have occurred after he forgot to engage the handbrake when parking the vehicle at his home in Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor, yesterday afternoon. reversed on its own and struck the victim, causing him to fall and become pinned underneath it.” Ibrahim said preliminary findings suggest the victim is believed to have failed to engage the vehicle’s handbrake, combined with the sloping driveway leading towards the gate. the incident are urged to assist investigations by contacting investigating officer Insp Nurul Anati Zulkifli at 03-6064 1222. Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar said firefighters assisted in extricating the victim, who was trapped beneath the car, after arriving at the scene at 5.43pm. Firefighters extricating the victim, who was trapped beneath the car. – PIC COURTESY OF SELANGOR FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT

Drug agency to deploy test kits SEPANG: The National Anti-Drugs Agency will begin deploying new synthetic drug detection kits nationwide from June, including for fentanyl and synthetic cannabinoids increasingly found in vape liquids, as authorities move to curb a growing drug threat in Malaysia.

District police chief ACP Ibrahim Husin said police received a report on the incident involving the 67-year-old victim at 5.30pm. “Initial investigations found that the incident occurred at 5.18pm when the victim parked his vehicle inside the driveway before stepping out to close the gate. “However, the vehicle suddenly

He said the victim was pronounced dead at the scene due to severe head injuries and was later taken to the Kuala Kubu Baharu Hospital for an autopsy. He added that the case is being investigated under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987. Individuals with information on

Its director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the detection kits have been distributed to all agency offices nationwide and would be used by enforcement personnel during field operations. “We will begin conducting tests using the synthetic drug test kits,

The operation involved five firefighters and a Compact Fire Rescue Tender unit from the Bukit Sentosa Fire and Rescue station, and was concluded at 6.05pm. – Bernama