Rm250k Penalty Per Aerotrain Breakdown Should Have Been Imposed From Outset Not After Almost 2 Dozen Disruptions

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THAT the latest aerotrain breakdown at KLIA Terminal One early yesterday (Oct 28) morning happened at an ungodly timing – the final day of the 47th ASEAN Summit – must have prompted Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook to order an APAD (Land Public Transport Agency) probe on airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB).
As the breakdown has seemingly become a routine affair which is contrarian to the operator’s license issued to MAHB, Loke has pointed to the Land Public Transport Act 2010 which stipulates that any breach of the operator’s license conditions may result in a fine of up to RM250,000 for each offence.

In the latest malfunction early yesterday (Oct 28) which now privatised MAHB attributed to the aerotrain’s power system which is under the responsibility of contractors IJM-PESTEC Joint Venture (IPJV) and its French manufacturer Alstom, stranded passengers were forced to walk along the tracks in the dark while carrying their luggage.
Since its re-launch on July 1 after the original aerotrain operation which had been running since 1998 was terminated in March 2023, the RM456 mil upgraded KLIA aerotrain (two units) has had 19 reported disruptions from July 2 to Sept 30 as per official records.n) has forced passengers to walk along the tracks in the dark, carrying their luggage.
The incident occurred early this morning. pic.twitter.com/74i821afHN
— Fahmi Yumi  (@kaiyumi42) October 28, 2025

Since then, additional incidents occurred on Oct 15 (power trip), Oct 16 and yesterday (Oct 28) – bringing the total to 22 breakdowns to-date along the 1.2km track which connects the KLIA satellite building to Terminal One in a span of about four months.
In other words, had the Transport Ministry (MOT) been stringent with MAHB from day one, Malaysia would not have been made a global laughing stock for the close to two dozen aerotrain breakdowns (and counting) while the government’s coffers could have easily been RM5.5 mil richer.
National embarrassment
MCA Youth secretary general Saw Yee Fung has slammed the spate of breakdown and especially yesterday’s (Oct 28) as having “severely damaged Malaysia’s international image in the eyes of foreign leaders and reflect an embarrassment that could have been prevented”.
“The Minister cannot rely only on statements and media conferences,” she hit out in a statement. “He must take concrete action, instruct MAHB to review the contractor’s performance thoroughly, fully disclose all maintenance and repair records, and report these findings to both Parliament and the public.
The RM460 million KLIA Aerotrain broke down again this morning — passengers forced to walk on the track!
How many more times must this happen before real accountability?
National embarrassment after national embarrassment — and still no heads roll. Ah Loke must be sacked as he…
— Wee Choo Keong (@weechookeong) October 28, 2025

Saw’s comrade Mike Chong who is the MCA Youth wing’s deputy chairman wants Minister Loke “to come clean with the public”.
“What action has been taken against Alstom, the contractor responsible for maintaining 100% operational availability for one train and 99.6% for both trains under the contract?” he demanded to know in a separate statement.

“Have penalties been imposed or has the government merely issued another warning? People deserve transparency, not excuses.
“It’s no longer acceptable for the MOT or MAHB to defend the situation by claiming that the manufacturer “responds quickly” whenever a disruption occurs. Constant firefighting is not management. Rather, it’s mismanagement.” –  Focus Malaysia

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