KTMB reprimanded for violating health guidelines with crowded train

PETALING JAYA: The workers and officers of KTM Bhd (KTMB) have been reprimanded by the Transport Ministry for violating the movement control order (MCO) health guidelines after a train from Port Klang to Tanjung Malim was found to have been overcrowded.

"KTMB and the ministry will monitor the situation to ensure that such missteps will not be repeated as we prioritise the health and safety of all passengers and staff of public transportation.

"KTMB has given its assurances that it will enact stricter crowd control measures including limiting the number of passengers at the gates to the platforms to board trains," the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday (May 6).

The ministry said it regretted that passengers, who were supposed to board a six-car train that adhered to the 50% load factor under the Health Ministry's guidelines, were ushered into a three-car replacement train deployed to relieve the faulty train.

It was reported that the original six-car train from Port Klang to Tanjung Malim met with a technical glitch and was then replaced with a three-car train.

A nine-second video of the incident went viral on social media sites showing the moving train packed with passengers and not adhering to the social distancing rule.

The ministry said KTMB has given its assurances that it would enact stricter crowd control measures, including limiting the number of passengers at the gate prior to the platforms to board trains.

"The ministry and KTMB offer their apologies to the public and remind all to be mindful of the Health Ministry’s public health guidelines during the MCO, including always practising safe distancing of at least one metre and wearing face masks before boarding rail and train services," it said. - Star