Lajim says 'fate' among reasons for train derailments
The Sun (26/5/08): Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Lajim Ukin listed "fate" as one of the main reasons for train derailments in the counrty in his answer to a supplementary question.
Other reasons he cited were human error, moisture and stagnant water on tracks in his answer to Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) who also asked about the rate of train accidents in the country.
"Train accidents do not only happen in Malaysia but in Japan, China and other sophisticated countries. However, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has its engineers, architects and we conduct inspections on our tracks almost every week," Lajim said.
He said the government is spending some RM16.935 billion on the double-tracking project running from Ipoh to Padang Besar and Seremban Gemas.
"Based on a re-census last October, some 1,607 squatter houses need to be relocated," Lajim said in his answer to an original question by Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang) on the double-tracking railway up-grading project.
Hayati also asked whether the the cost of the double-tracking project had doubled because the Seremban–Gemas track was first given to Erkon and India and then cancelled, postponed and given again to the company with the condition that Scomi gets one billion worth of projects in India.
"Has the cost doubled because of projects reciprocated to companies under the Prime Minister’s ambit (referring to Kamaluddin Abdullah – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son who owns Scomi)?" Mohamed Hayati asked.
Lajim said: "We gave it to Erkon because we have a government to government negotiation where traders from our country gets contracts to build roads in India."
"These negotiations have nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s ambit and so on. Whoever it is that can work, if he is the Prime Minister’s child or the Opposition’s child, if he can work towards getting contracts overseas, what’s wrong?
"There is nothing wrong with that," Lajim quipped.
Other reasons he cited were human error, moisture and stagnant water on tracks in his answer to Fong Kui Lun (DAP-Bukit Bintang) who also asked about the rate of train accidents in the country.
"Train accidents do not only happen in Malaysia but in Japan, China and other sophisticated countries. However, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has its engineers, architects and we conduct inspections on our tracks almost every week," Lajim said.
He said the government is spending some RM16.935 billion on the double-tracking project running from Ipoh to Padang Besar and Seremban Gemas.
"Based on a re-census last October, some 1,607 squatter houses need to be relocated," Lajim said in his answer to an original question by Dr Mohamed Hayati Othman (PAS-Pendang) on the double-tracking railway up-grading project.
Hayati also asked whether the the cost of the double-tracking project had doubled because the Seremban–Gemas track was first given to Erkon and India and then cancelled, postponed and given again to the company with the condition that Scomi gets one billion worth of projects in India.
"Has the cost doubled because of projects reciprocated to companies under the Prime Minister’s ambit (referring to Kamaluddin Abdullah – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son who owns Scomi)?" Mohamed Hayati asked.
Lajim said: "We gave it to Erkon because we have a government to government negotiation where traders from our country gets contracts to build roads in India."
"These negotiations have nothing to do with the Prime Minister’s ambit and so on. Whoever it is that can work, if he is the Prime Minister’s child or the Opposition’s child, if he can work towards getting contracts overseas, what’s wrong?
"There is nothing wrong with that," Lajim quipped.
