Loke orders MAHB to explain power outage at KLIA within 24 hours

The transport minister says it is ‘unacceptable’ that the disruption this afternoon, which caused congestion around the escalators, lasted more than 15 minutes.

Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said any technical disruption lasting more than 15 minutes is considered a major one, especially at the country’s main gateway. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

 Transport minister Loke Siew Fook has ordered the management of Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) and gateway@klia2 to prepare a full report within 24 hours on the power blackout that struck Terminal 2 today.

Bernama reported him as saying it was “unacceptable” that the disruption, which occurred while he was at the terminal for the launch of a programme by gateway@klia2 this afternoon, lasted more than 15 minutes.

He said in the public transport sector, any technical disruption lasting more than 15 minutes is considered a major one, especially at the country’s main gateway.

“As usual, I arrived 15 minutes early at 2.10pm. The programme could not commence until 2.35pm. I found out that (this was because of) a power outage that lasted almost 20 minutes.

“What happened was unacceptable.”

Loke said although the information boards were still working, he found that many electrical systems were down, including that for the escalators.

“Things like this can give our country a very bad image. The backup system should be working, but why was it not activated?

“I have a Cabinet meeting tomorrow and a (ministry) meeting in the afternoon. I do not want to hear any excuses or accusations.

“I want a solution and a guarantee that this will not happen again,” he said.

The electrical outage this afternoon had caused congestion around the escalators and disrupted activities at shopping premises. - FMT