KUALA LUMPUR: Negligence by contractors in the recent multi-level parking project at Rawang Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) station resulted in losses of more than RM2.4 million.
The incident, involving a construction crane which collapsed on the track at Kilometer (KM) 355.749 between Rawang and Kuang occurred on December 12 last year.
It disrupted train services for more than two hours, affecting over 20,000 passengers traveling on the Komuter and Electric Train (ETS), commuter, and cargo trains operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB).
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that KTMB issued a warning letter and froze approvals to the Public Works Department (JKR) and Railway Assets Corp (RAC) on May 23 last year.
He said this action was taken in response to construction work on a 'pipe culvert' adjacent to KTMB's operational track without obtaining KTMB's permission.
"KTMB had approved the contractors for 'Maintain Load Test' pile testing and pile cap construction adjacent to KTMB's operational track on June 1, 2023.
"However on Aug 16 last year, the company had issued a stop-work warning to JKR regarding construction work using heavy machinery without permission within KTMB's operational area," he said in a statement.
Loke said that the contractors received two improvement notices from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), emphasising deficiencies in providing a lifting plan and ensuring the installed formwork was neither bent nor rusted.
It was reported that the ETS services of KTMB in the Klang Valley were disrupted when the train toppled last year.
Loke said that as a result of the incident, DOSH had issued an immediate prohibition notice to contractor-1, 'Gantung tugas SL PMA 35086' (crawler crane).
He also added that KTMB swiftly opened a Command Centre to coordinate arrangements, redirect the crane, and aid affected passengers by offering shuttle buses.
All KTMB Komuter train services on the Tanjung Malim-KL Sentral-Tanjung Malim line, as well as the affected ETS services were fully restored on December 14.