Latest news with #ShahAlamLine
Focus Malaysia
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Shouldn't Anthony Loke resign over non-delivery, repeated failures of Malaysia's public transport systems?
IN A familiar tirade, a government minister is taken to the cleaners for perceived failure to dispense duties. The civil servant in question is Anthony Loke Siew Fook whose Transport Ministry has come under the spotlight for numerous issues that range from tragic (separate) accidents that claimed lives of tertiary institution students and FRU personnel to breakdown of public transport. Squeeze in the death of a baby elephant into the mix, one could claim that Seremban MP and DAP secretary-general is definitely feeling the heat. Or isn't he? It was observed on X by urban transportation enthusiast Amirual Ruslan (@amirulruslan) that the country suffers from repeated and predictable pattern of over-promising, under-delivering and much to his chagrin, washing of hands whenever issues arise. Malaysia suffers such an annoying, predictable pattern of overpromising, underdelivering, and then lazily shrugging when maintenance issues immediately pop up. At what point did these projects overrun in time and why were these delays not expressed? — Amirul Ruslan (@amirulruslan) August 5, 2025 He very pointedly demanded to know why when projects overrun – in both deadline and budget – they are not expressly highlighted by those supposedly in charge. The angry post was in response to a similar post by Aduan Rakyat (@RakyatAduan) which highlighted that the LRT3 (Light Rail Transit 3) a.k.a. Shah Alam Line project slated for Sept 30 could miss its deadline. This is in addition to the delay in the KTM Electric Train Service from Kuala Lumpur to Johor Baru. Moreover, there is also the repeated failures of the recently re-opened aerotrain service at Terminal One of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). This sense of frustration was echoed in the comments with various observers expressing similar sentiments. The wastage – and pocketing – of public funds is the main problem here. The 'over-promise, under-deliver and poor maintenance' excuse was just a smokescreen claimed one commenter. It was argued that this is the consequence of blindly placing deadlines without taking into account the actual needs of the work. In Aduan Rakyat's post, it was also highlighted the RapidKL open payment system was to be delayed till 2028. The poster demanded an explanation from the Transport Minister. One commenter wondered whether the minister's wages could be similarly delayed with such non-performance. He further hoped that one day the country will rid itself of a 'better late than never' culture. The long list of perceived failures of the Transport Ministry under Loke has seen many calls for his resignation despite he being dubbed one of the most performing ministers during the short-lived Pakatan Harapan (PH) 1.0 era. Stepping aside would not only herald an almost unprecedented move by incumbent minister but could actually help the Madani administration win back some of the trust deficit it is currently experiencing. But then again, this is Malaysia and that would be wishful thinking. – Aug 7, 2025 Main image credit: Anthony Loke Siew Fook/Facebook
The Star
03-08-2025
- Business
- The Star
Setback for Klang commuters
A longer wait to board: The Shah Alam Line train leaving the Pasar Jawa station in Klang. Train testing and commissioning is underway. — KK SHAM/The Star PETALING JAYA: Prasarana Malaysia's Shah Alam Line (formerly known as LRT3) that connects Bandar Utama in Petaling Jaya with Klang is set to miss its widely expected Sept 30 opening date. Just last week, it posted a Facebook update announcing that the LRT sets will have to undergo '24-hour train testing and commissioning' until Oct 30. This means that the entire checklist of electrification, signalling and communications infrastructure has yet to pass regulatory muster, even if all of the physical infrastructure such as stations and track work are completed. On July 30, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said in Parliament that the Shah Alam Line is 99% complete, but did not indicate the date of passenger service commencement. When contacted, a Prasarana official declined to provide any specific date, beyond saying 'the project team is still conducting some key tests before they can conclude'. The Shah Alam LRT is a project built, owned and operated by Prasarana. It is an eagerly awaited service as it provides a critical alternative for Klang residents who have to endure service disruptions of the KTM Komuter due to the ongoing Phase II of the Klang Valley Double Track Rehabilitation project. This disruption is set to last for years, with no clear end date. According to rail professionals, rail testing and commissioning is the most challenging phase of a railway project due to the complexity of integrating various systems as this is a high-stakes area that will impact safety and reliability, more so with the complexities of modern rail systems. 'This phase requires meticulous planning, precise execution and thorough documentation to ensure all systems function together as intended. 'It is a process that cannot be rushed through,' said Yuslizar Daud, a railway systems specialist who once headed the Land Public Transport Commission's Rail Division. The seemingly rushed opening of KL International Airport's aerotrain on July 1 is a lesson for all, particularly after electrical problems on July 12 halted a train set just before it reached the satellite terminal building. Passengers had to disembark and walk the rest of the way. To date, contractors are still conducting tests and rectification of the system. Yesterday afternoon, only one aerotrain was available for service, leading to congestion at the airport. As for the KTM Bhd's electric train service to Johor Baru, Sunday Star reported yesterday that the service will not be able to reach Johor Baru this quarter. Questions linger on whether it will be able to meet its target by end of the year. In response, KTMB said the government is committed to the project's full completion in 'a phased approach', though the statement stayed clear of committing to any particular timeline or date.
