Offence committed every 15 minutes

NO WAY, LET ME IN FIRST: No system for those getting in and out

PETALING JAYA: One offence is committed every 15 minutes.

This was the shocking revelation discovered by The Malay Mail following our observation at the KL Sentral monorail station on the lack of adherence to safety procedures by commuters yesterday.

In the wake of the incident where a woman’s hand got stuck between the sliding doors of a moving Monorail train on Feb 9 at the Bukit Bintang station, The Malay Mail parked itself at the station to record the number of offences committed during peak hours.

In the hour-long observation, our reporter Thasha Jayamanogaran saw commuters running into the train despite the door alert buzzing, waiting for the train on the yellow safety line as well as attempting to open the automated doors when it was closing and squeezing themselves through.

Below is her first-person account.

● FROM 8am, my photographer Ashraf Shamsul Azlan and I stood as bystanders at the monorail station, observing the antics of commuters rushing to work.

I noticed that as soon as a train arrives, everyone was adamant to fill up that train despite it already being jammed packed with commuters.

When the train moves, I even saw some “flattened faces” on the glass window. However, the first major offence I observed happened within my first 10 minutes there. I saw two casually-dressed men, who looked like in their 30s, running up the escalator to catch the train, although the sliding doors were already closing.

SUCH A RUSH: A lady trying to get her way in first before those inside the train could<br />come out

One of them managed to squeeze through the already-narrow door. His friend, however, decided not to risk it and took a step back. They waved at each another, indicating to meet at the next stop.

According to Syarikat Prasarana Negara Berhad (Prasarana), once the buzzer sound and red light are on, commuters are no longer allowed to enter or exit the train even though the doors are still open. This is because the doors will force close after the five-second buzzer goes off.

A door will only reopen if its sensor detects an obstruction measuring at least 3.5cm.

This rule was clearly neglected by commuters throughout my observation yesterday.

This was also what had happened to 24-year-old Lim Cui Hong, who found herself sliding on a waist-high safety railing at the 45 metre-long platform for seven metres before falling down a 2.4m-deep “track envelope” after a station employee alerted the train driver to stop.

The sensor did not “capture” the telemarketer’s slim hand as an obstruction when she tried to board the packed train whilst the buzzer on.

About five minutes after I saw the two men’s antics, I noticed a woman standing on the yellow line despite four visible signboards prohibiting the act.

Busy talking into her mobile phone, the tall woman seemed oblivious that she was only one step less to falling into the track envelope.

The most common offence I saw was boarding commuters not giving way to those exiting, be it if the latter were senior citizens or mothers with toddlers.

Fine the offenders, commuters urge authorities

LAKSHUMY: Excuses of being late for work in not following rules is not an excuse

HAUL UP the offenders and fine them if they don’t follow the rules and regulations.

This was the general consensus echoed by commuters in the city following the incident where a telemarketer got her hand stuck between the sliding doors of a moving monorail train at the Bukit Bintang station on Feb 9.

Lim Cui Hong, 24, had entered the packed train but decided to get back out at the last minute.

Commuters, interviewed by The Malay Mail at the Monorail’s KL Sentral and Bukit Bintang stations yesterday, felt that Malaysian should instil passenger etiquette and learn how to behave while waiting or getting on board a train.

The typical mindset of being selfish and not adhering to rules and regulations, they argued should change.

Many also suggested the authorities to station personnel to monitor the movement of passengers during peak hours to ensure that these “errant” commuters would “toe the line”.

Housewife, Normah Nordin, 42, said the majority of Malaysian seemed to have a sort of a cultivated habit of ignoring and not adhering to rules.

“They are so use to it. They simply refused to listen or follow rules these days. The management should station a few personnel to monitor these commuters especially during peak hours. Those who are stubborn and can’t
take instructions should be fine or told to leave the station,” said Normah.

MIZA: Station officers should limit entry

A student Miza Atikah,18, said “errant” commuters not only endanger themselves but also posed a hazard to others.

“During rush hour these commuters can be very selfish. Some do not even give priorities to mothers with toddlers or senior citizens.

“All they do is squeeze into a crowded train,” she said.

Miza suggested that if a personnel were to be stationed to monitor the passengers, he or she should not allow the train to be fully packed to a point that passengers find it difficult to move or breathe.

A sales executive, Lakshumy Kumar, 26, said running late for work should not be used as an excuse to ignore the rules and regulations of waiting for a train.

“This is a typical excuse. They should change their habit and come early next time,” said Lakshumy.

READ: Close shave for woman at Monorail station