Who will take the rap for LRT crash?

 

Transport minister Wee Ka Siong’s brief and vague press statement about the Cabinet receiving the LRT crash report was a disappointment.

It appears that the investigation committee has avoided apportioning blame or liability to any party. In other words, an accident happened, but no one will be held responsible.

Will we learn from our past disasters in the transport industry? Probably not.

Wee said that no one should be blamed for the LRT crash, and that with the suggested improvements, the people should have greater confidence in the public transport system.

Unwittingly, he has done the opposite. With his poor explanation of the prelude to the crash, few will have any confidence in the LRT network, or any proposed high-speed rail links in the future.

He mentioned that “critical procedures” had been missed and that some things had been “overlooked”. What were these critical procedures? Who missed them? Who overlooked them?

Was it the driver (of the empty train) or the controller at the Operation Control Centre (OCC) who had “overlooked” and “missed critical procedures” when attempting to guide the empty train to a “re-entry” point near the Dang Wangi LRT station.

Why can’t he speak simple English?

More disturbing, no one will be sacked. His explanations point to a management failure, but will any management staff take the blame?

Automated trains have in-built computer-aided warning systems and protective, fail-safe devices. Were these disabled and if so, why? Is there regular maintenance?

What happened on that night at the OCC? What was the real reason for many of the automated processes to fail? It is fortunate that there were no deaths in the crash.

If no one is held responsible for the crash, how does Wee expect investors to have confidence in the country, or public confidence in the public transport system?

Wee has shown his failure to lead and failure to punish those who are wrong. As transport minister, the buck stops with him.

Comparing LRT crash with MH370

There were a few disturbing parallels with the management of the press conferences of last month’s LRT crash and the disappearance of MH370 in 2014.

The early press briefings for both were public relations disasters. Leaders from both sides – Prasarana, and MAS and the civil aviation authority – gave poor accounts of themselves.

With the world’s press attending, they not only showed a poor command of English but did not think before they engaged their mouths. They showed incompetence, and inadequate skills in dealing with major incidents.

The blame game that followed showed how the top brass will make a junior employee the scapegoat. In 2014, some blamed the pilot for the disappearance of MH370 without providing evidence to that effect. In last month’s LRT crash, Wee said that the driver of the empty train had been negligent. He backtracked the following day, after netizens attacked him on social media.

In both cases, the management did not apologise for what had transpired. Maybe, an apology means an admission of fault, and this will inevitably lead to the company being sued by the victims and their families. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

✍ Credit given to the original owner of this post : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

🌐 Hit This Link To Find Out More On Their Articles...🏄🏻‍♀️ Enjoy Surfing!