Transport Minister Anthony Loke must clarify whether any progress has been made on installing platform screen doors at older LRT stations, following his announcement in August 2025 that the matter would be studied. This is especially urgent given that another passenger fell onto the tracks at the Abdullah Hukum LRT station just a week ago.

More than six months have passed since the Minister first announced the study and proposed measures, yet there has been no visible progress. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including a tragic case in which a visually impaired individual fell onto the tracks at Titiwangsa LRT station in Kuala Lumpur and was fatally struck by a train.

The Ministry of Transport has acknowledged this as a systemic design issue and pledged to explore the installation of platform screen doors to improve safety. However, delays have continued, and the problem remains unresolved, with yet another incident occurring recently.

Is the government genuinely conducting a study, or simply delaying action? Must such incidents continue to happen, or even escalate into more serious tragedies, before decisive steps are taken?

While Anthony Loke emphasised that the system “functioned as intended” following the incident, the emergency braking system, Platform Intrusion Emergency Stop (PIES), should only serve as a last line of defence and cannot replace preventive measures. The priority must be the installation of platform screen doors to stop passengers from accessing the tracks in the first place.

Public transport safety must not depend on chance, nor rely on temporary measures or reactive responses after incidents occur. The government has a duty to ensure the safety of commuters, rather than offering explanations only after accidents happen.

The Ministry of Transport must disclose a clear timeline, identify the stations that urgently require additional safety measures (such as business central stations where overcrowding is frequent), and outline the budget allocations, so that the rakyat can be properly informed of the progress in installing platform screen doors, instead of continued delays justified by cost concerns or prolonged studies.

Mike Chong
MCA National Youth Deputy Chairman

9 April 2026

-MCA Comm-