Klia S Aerotrain Is The Gateway To Embarrassment

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 When air passengers land in Malaysia, their first steps on our soil should convey efficiency, modernity, and hospitality.
Sadly, the Aerotrain link between terminals at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), has become a symbol of national shame.
On Oct 28, the Aerotrain broke down again. Passengers, some fresh off long-haul flights, were forced to drag their luggage along the tracks under the glare of terminal lights.
The image quickly went viral. Passengers shared photos of a supposed world-class airport reduced to third world chaos.
The stark contrast in service is something many Malaysians have long complained about and been forced to tolerate. Things range from the Aerotrain, to our alleged two-tiered system of justice.
Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) can deliver an apparently seamless service for VVIP guests, as demonstrated during US President Donald Trump's arrival at the Bunga Raya complex at KLIA.
Yet, MAHB has failed ordinary passengers on the Aerotrain, forcing them to walk along the tracks. This stark contrast exposes a troubling inconsistency in service and accountability.
The facts cannot be denied:
The breakdown on Oct 28 was caused by a power-supply system malfunction, under the responsibility of IJM-Pestec Joint Venture (IPJV), with Alstom as project lead.
A similar failure occurred on Oct 15.
Since its launch on July 1, the Aerotrain has experienced 21 disruptions.
MAHB spent RM742 million on the Airport Regeneration Plan, which was initially awarded to Pestech
The Aerotrains received an independent assessment outlining the technical failure which forced passengers onto the tracks.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke called the incident “deeply embarrassing” and admitted he was “angry and ashamed.”
The repeated Aerotrain failures can no longer be seen as a vague "something went wrong". The anatomy of failure of where it all went wrong, can be easily compartmentalised, with each contributing factor identified, analysed and addressed.
Repeated power-supply problems and dislodged components point to serious flaws in installation, commissioning, and accountability by IPJV and Alstom.
Even with a newly overhauled fleet, corrective actions have been slow to implement. These boil down to contractor performance.
Preventive maintenance and operational supervision appear insufficient, as evidenced by repeated malfunctions and incidents like the dislodged current-collector device after scheduled maintenance (from Aug 18 to 31).
Many Malaysians are only too familiar with huge technical and maintenance gaps in products and services.
The usual blame game
MAHB blamed the contractors, the Transport Ministry emphasised due process, and passengers bore the consequences. Gaps in monitoring and contingency planning expose serious oversight and operational supervision.
A deputy minister suggested that some disruptions were caused by passengers forcing doors. What he did was to divert responsibility from MAHB and its contractors.
Accountability means that the buck stops with the operator, not the paying traveller. It is time the deputy minister stops victim blaming and shaming.
Deputy Transport Minister Hasbi HabibollahMalaysian politicians are infamous for their excuse culture, by misdirecting blame from those responsible.
The MAHB board has oversight of operations, maintenance planning, and contractor performance. Repeated failures and poor response times suggest systemic governance issues. This latest aerotrain failure is one failure too many.
If Malaysia is to deliver on a world-class airport standard, then MAHB’s board cannot escape responsibility for the repeated disruptions, poor oversight, and millions of ringgit spent with little to show. Leadership changes are long overdue.
Remember Malacca monorail?
Some Malaysians may recall a similar failure parallel in the form of the Malacca Monorail.
Just like the Aerotrain, the Malacca Monorail, a mere 1.6 km automated transit was more notorious for its breakdowns than its supposed feature as a tourist marvel.
Instead of showing off the Malacca River spectacle, the monorail left tourists stranded and frustrated.
The Aerotrain is newer but is infamous for its frequent disruption and poor contingency planning.
Nevertheless, both cases highlight chronic issues in procurement, maintenance, and oversight for automated transport. Millions spent on infrastructure mean little without operational reliability.
Not a capability issue
Trump's visit proved that Malaysia can execute high-profile visits flawlessly, but cannot guarantee basic service for everyday travellers. This is not a capability issue, but a matter of consistency, transparency, and urgency.
Will an independent audit be set up, to examine the RM742 million contract and procurement process? Wil there be a public disclosure of the monthly logs of all disruptions, causes, and remedies?
Or will penalties be enforced, under the Land Public Transport Act at up to RM250,000 per incident?
Will a governance reset occur, whereby independent engineers and auditors oversee MAHB operations? Will Loke demand contractor accountability, with Alstom and IPJV publicly reporting the failures, timelines, and corrective measures taken?
Passengers dragging their luggage beside train tracks at an international airport, is a humiliating image.
Until MAHB, its contractors, and government agencies deliver a reliable, transparent, and fully operational Aerotrain, every step on that track highlights a fundamental question: "If Malaysia can produce results for VVIP guests, why can’t it deliver the same standard for ordinary travellers?”
KLIA is the country’s first impression. Until MAHB fixes this, Malaysia is showing the world that ordinary travellers are expendable.
After the Aerotrain upgrades, Izani Ghani, the MAHB managing director, said: “The aerotrain is a critical link in KLIA operations, and the completion of this scheduled work reflects our focus on service excellence, and ensuring a seamless travel experience for passengers.”
Passengers disagree because the Aerotrains are anything but an “excellent and seamless travel experience”.
For them, the Aerotrain is a case study in institutional incompetence. - Mkini
MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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