Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan has assured the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) in Parliament on 7 November 2017 that the six suspended SMRT staff involved in the recent MRT tunnels flooding “will be accorded due process”.
Mr Khaw also made it clear that it was human error that lead to the flooding, not other causes like an extraordinary storm or inadequacy in the design of flood prevention measures.
While SMRT has completed its internal investigations, the Land Transport Authority’s investigations will take a few more weeks to complete.
Support for Other Workers
The suspended six-man maintenance team comprises a manager, an engineering supervisor and four other crew members, said SMRT in a media release on 6 November 2017.
In a response released on the same day, NTWU Executive Secretary Melvin Yong said that other SMRT staff are concerned about the public’s perception of their work and attitude.
Mr Yong said: “NTWU recognises that many workers are working hard day and night to ensure that train operations and maintenance work are carried out properly. NTWU also strongly believes that most of the workers are responsible and do their utmost at work, and we hope that the public continues to give them support and does not lose trust and confidence in them.”
He added that NTWU does not support any action by workers that would cause harm to fellow workers and commuters, and damage to the operations of the transport system.
Mr Yong also urged SMRT to define clearly what amnesty means and how it would be administered fairly. This comes after SMRT said it would grant amnesty to workers who take responsibility for their role in the flooding incident.
