The operational disruption on the Putrajaya mass rapid transit (MRT) line is suspected to have been caused by the theft of communication and signalling cables.
SUBANG JAYA: The operational disruption on the Putrajaya mass rapid transit (MRT) line, which has caused train services to be operated manually today, is suspected to have been caused by the theft of communication and signalling cables.
Prasarana Malaysia Berhad (Prasarana) Group President and Chief Executive Officer Amir Hamdan said the company’s technical team, together with experts from the original equipment manufacturers (OEM), is carrying out comprehensive repair and restoration works to stabilise operations as soon as possible.
“Currently, the system is still in an ‘intermittent’ state and has not been fully repaired. Operations are currently being carried out in manual mode with 18 trains operating, in addition to 40 free shuttle buses provided to connect stations along the MRT Putrajaya line,” he said.
Amir said the company will continue to provide updates on the progress of the restoration works to help commuters plan their journeys more effectively over the next two days.
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He said the cable theft, which affected the line’s operations, was detected in the Taman Desa area and is currently being investigated in collaboration with the police.
“This year alone, we have recorded almost 50 incidents of cable theft, an increase of about 100 per cent compared to last year. This is worrying because it involves risks to safety and operational stability.
“Cable theft cases not only affect the rail operation system, but also affect other service operators facing similar issues,” he said.
He said the matter has been brought to the government’s attention for consideration of tightening laws regarding theft of public infrastructure assets.
Meanwhile, ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit tomorrow, Amir advised public transport users to plan their journeys and use alternative routes as announced by Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd (Rapid Rail). – Bernama
