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Tag: Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari

  • Victim’s Family Questions Sacking Of MRT Driver

    Victim’s Family Questions Sacking Of MRT Driver

    The families of the victims in the fatal SMRT accident in March have questioned the operator’s sacking of the train driver involved in the tragedy, before investigations by the relevant authorities are complete and the Coroner’s Inquiry is held.

    Expressing their sympathies for the sacked driver, they reiterated the need for the full picture to emerge. Amid concerns that the sacking could prejudice the ongoing probes, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in response to TODAY’s queries that the sacking was “an internal decision by SMRT”.

    “Investigations by MOM and LTA are ongoing and will be based on the facts of the case,” they added.

    On Wednesday (Sept 14), The Straits Times reported that Mr Rahmat Mohd, 49, was dismissed on Tuesday after an internal disciplinary inquiry. Citing sources, it added that an operations control centre staff member had also left the company earlier on account of the incident, which occurred on March 22.

    Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, and Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, were killed by an oncoming train while on their way, as part of a team of 15, to check on a warning signal from a monitoring device.

    Speaking to TODAY, Nasrulhudin’s eldest brother Nasrifudin, 33, said his family was shocked to hear about the sacking of Mr Rahmat. “He could be the breadwinner of the family so we are also sad for him,” said the civil servant.

    Asyraf’s cousin, who wished to be known only as Mr Khai, noted that all the staff involved in the accident as well as their colleagues would have been “affected emotionally and mentally”.

    While he felt that SMRT had its own reasons for dismissing the driver, it would have been better if the operator based its disciplinary actions on the Coroner’s Inquiry, which would uncover the “real sequence of events”.

    “They should wait (for the inquiry),” he said. Nevertheless, he said the family is thankful for SMRT’s support following the tragedy. “We have to accept the situation as it is … The takeaway from all this is that hopefully, none of this happens again,” he added.

    Mr Melvin Yong, the National Transport Workers’ Union (NTWU) executive secretary, said that the union had previously written to SMRT, asking it to withhold any disciplinary action until official investigations are complete, so as to not prejudice the outcome.

    “We will now review the situation, study the grounds for SMRT dismissal, and work with the affected staff on the next steps. The union will continue to render affected staff the necessary support and assistance during this difficult time, as we have since the incident,” he added.

    In April, SMRT shared the findings by an independent panel on the accident. The panel found that the team involved had stepped onto the train track before “vital” protection measures were implemented. Also, a speed limit to prevent trains from entering the track area on automated mode was not set, and watchmen were not deployed to look out for and warn of approaching trains, “directly causing” the accident.

    The report was submitted to LTA, MOM and the police to assist with their statutory investigations. A Coroner’s Inquiry will be held after official investigations conclude. LTA had earlier said that its investigations would be completed in the third quarter of this year.

    When contacted, SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan reiterated that the company does not comment on staff disciplinary measures.

    The sacking of Mr Rahmat also drew flak online.

    Writing on Facebook, prominent blogger Andrew Loh said the firing was a case of “scapegoating”. He asked if the sacked train driver was really at fault, and even if he was, whether he should be made to bear the full responsibility. He added: “Amazing that, at the other end, despite years of failures, disruptions, delays and all sorts of incidents on our trains, affecting millions of commuters, NOT A SINGLE higher-up has ever been held accountable.”

    Referring to Mr Rahmat, Ms Emily Chong wrote on SMRT’s Facebook page: “At 49 years old, he now has to find a new job to support himself and his family — for a mistake that was not his to bear.”

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

     

  • SMRT Train Driver Involved In Fatal Accident Resulting In Deaths Of Two Colleagues Fired

    SMRT Train Driver Involved In Fatal Accident Resulting In Deaths Of Two Colleagues Fired

    Transport operator SMRT Corp has fired the train driver who was involved in a fatal track accident that killed two of his colleagues in March.

    The Straits Times understands that Mr Rahmat Mohd, 49, was dismissed yesterday after an internal disciplinary inquiry.

    Mr Rahmat, who was reassigned to a non-driving job after the accident, said he felt “sad” about the company’s decision. “I’ve no plans at the moment,” he added.

    Sources said an operations control centre staff member had also left earlier on account of the incident.

    SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan said the company does not comment on staff disciplinary measures.

    National Transport Workers’ Union executive secretary Melvin Yong said: “NTWU understands that SMRT has taken action to dismiss two workers related to the incident on March 22. NTWU has previously written to SMRT to withhold any actions against the affected workers until completion of official investigations so as to not prejudice the outcome of the official investigations. We will now review the situation, study the grounds for SMRT dismissal, and work with the affected staff on the next steps.”

    Two SMRT maintenance workers were killed while they were on an East-West Line track near Pasir Ris station on the morning of March 22. Mr Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, and Mr Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, were hit by an oncoming train while they were undergoing on-the-job training.

    The two men were part of a group of 15 sent to investigate a possible fault with a track equipment.

    SMRT said in April – after an internal probe into the tragedy – that failure to follow safety measures had led to the accident.

    Lapses included allowing a train to ply in automatic mode while workers were on site, not deploying watchmen to look out for approaching trains, and failing to provide early warning to the work team.

    The Ministry of Manpower had also called on the operator to tighten its safety procedures a week after the fatal incident. A coroner’s inquiry into the accident is expected to convene early next year.

     

    Source: www.straitstimes.com

  • Some SMRT Staff Upset Over Apparent Disregard For Workers’ Safety

    Some SMRT Staff Upset Over Apparent Disregard For Workers’ Safety

    In the aftermath of the two SMRT employees’ deaths, some of their colleagues are upset by what they see as an apparent disregard for workers’ safety over the need to assuage commuters’ grouses about train breakdowns. Others said they were kept in the dark about the tragedy on Tuesday (March 22) even as they had to continue performing their duties.

    Speaking to TODAY on the condition of anonymity, an SMRT engineer said: “We are very angry and sad that such a thing has happened. It was an accident that could have been avoided. Safety should always come first and not be compromised, even when the management wants problems to be fixed fast to avoid delays to the train service.”

    While “technicians on the ground are essential for the reliability of operations”, the engineer said, he was “devastated” when he heard the news that they were killed on the tracks.

    “When the machines on the track are malfunctioning, it is sometimes necessary that we have to send people down to fix them. But safety should never be compromised in the process,” he stressed.

    Another SMRT employee, who declined to be named, said that ground crew personnel were not given much information after the accident. He himself was not told about what was happening at the accident scene, or about when the station may be re-opened: “(At that time), people were asking how long the delay would last, and I said, ‘I’m not sure’.”

    He recalled that the signal light “turned to red” at around 11.20am at the station, “indicating that something had happened”. “After that, my officer gave me instructions saying that people from the platform were coming down. He said, ‘Just open the gates and let the people go out; (to) just clear the crowd’.”

    Another SMRT ground staff member said she heard that the maintenance workers were from another station and were at Pasir Ris to check on the tracks, and some of the ground crew had to leave with the police for investigations.

    Train services between Pasir Ris and Tanah Merah stations were suspended for about three hours on Tuesday afternoon when two maintenance workers were hit by an oncoming train about 150m from the train platform.

    Singaporeans Nasrulhudin Najumudin, 26, and Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24, were trainees who had just joined SMRT in January. The two were part of a 15-member technical team, including a supervisor, who went on the tracks to check on a reported alarm from a condition monitoring device for signalling equipment.

    When TODAY arrived at the scene around 12.30pm, the gates to the station were closed, and SMRT officials were handing out information flyers and diverting commuters to Pasir Ris bus interchange for free bus services.

    Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) personnel and family members of the deceased entered and exited the train station even as it was off-limits to the public at that point, while members of the press and some bystanders lingered at the station entrance.

    A 55-year-old Pasir Ris resident, who asked to be identified only as Mr Yong, said he was walking to the MRT station at around noon when he saw SCDF personnel guiding passengers — about 20 — from the stalled train to the station.

    A homemaker in her 50s, who wanted to be known only as Madam Foo, said she had gone to the upper floors of a nearby apartment block to find out “why the train is just (stuck) on the tracks like that”. “I saw a body on the track. It was already wrapped up. I got a shock, of course,” she said.

    One commuter, technician Timothy Hoong, 53, told TODAY that such an incident “shouldn’t have happened in the first place”.

    “When the train is operational, nobody should be on the tracks for safety reasons … It’s all right to delay the train service than to just go ahead with the maintenance (and resulting) in somebody getting killed.”

    Mr Hoong believes the accident may have been prevented if “proper communication” took place.

     

    Source: www.todayonline.com

  • Mangsa Tragedi SMRT, Nasrulhudin Seorang “Penyeri Setiap Majlis”

    Mangsa Tragedi SMRT, Nasrulhudin Seorang “Penyeri Setiap Majlis”

    Allahyarham Nasrulhudin Najumudin baru sahaja mendapat pekerjaan dengan pengendali pengangkutan SMRT pada bulan Januari lalu dan ghairah meneruskan masa depannya.

    Demikian menurut seorang sepupu beliau, kepada Mediacorp.

    Namun kurang tiga bulan kemudian, Nasrulhudin yang berusia 26 tahun dilanggar kereta api sewaktu menjalani latihan semasa bekerja.

    ‘Nasrul seorang yang periang, kami sering tertawa apabila berada bersamanya…beliau penyeri setiap majlis,” kata sepupunya Cik Amalina Radwan hari ini (22 Mac).

    “Saya membesar bersama beliau. Kami belajar di sekolah rendah yang sama dan di dalam darjah yang sama,” tambah Cik Amalina.

    “Kami amat bersedih kerana kami begitu gembira untuk beliau apabila beliau mendapat pekerjaan baru. Saya pasti beliau akan dirindui,” ujar Cik Amalina penuh sebak.

    Kemalangan itu turut meragut nyawa rakan sekerjanya Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, 24 tahun.

    Allahyarham, Muhammad Asyraf pula merupakan salah seorang anggota kumpulan qasidah Al khidmah.

    Menurut laman Facebook Sout Ilaahi, Muhammad Asyraf adalah seorang yang baik dan kedua ibu bapanya yang berada di Makkah bagi menunaikan ibadah umrah sedang dalam perjalanan pulang ke Singapura.

    Sout Illaahi

    KAMI HARAP IA BUKAN SEPUPU KAMI

    Seorang lagi sepupu Nasrul, Encik Ridzwan Hakim menceritakan saat beliau mendapat tahu tentang tragedi yang menimpa sepupunya.

    “Setelah bersarapan, kami terima panggilan telefon tentang saudara kami yang sudah meninggal dunia. Kami berasa amat sedih,” jelas Encik Ridzwan.

    “Apabila kami terima berita itu, mereka belum pasti nama mangsa. Apa yang kami tahu adalah dua kakitangan sudah meninggal dunia. Kami hanya mampu berharap agar ia bukan sepupu kami,” tambah beliau.

    BAPA DAN ABANG MANGSA, JUGA KAKITANGAN SMRT

    Abang sulung Nasrul, Encik Nasrifudin memberitahu Mediacorp bahawa berita itu pada awalnya disampaikan kepada bapanya dan seorang lagi adiknya, yang kedua-duanya juga merupakan kakitangan SMRT.

    “Terdapat berita di kalangan kakitangan SMRT, Bapa dan seorang lagi adik saya, sebagai pekerja, mendapat tahu tentang insiden itu sewaktu mereka berada di tempat kerja. Mereka kemudian memberitahu kepada kami dan kami begitu terkejut,” jelas Encik Nasrifudin.

    Menurut beliau, jenazah adiknya akan dibawa pulang pagi esok (23 Mac) dan akan diuruskan di masjid berdekatan sebelum dikebumikan.

    KOMEN DARI CEO SMRT

    Menurut SMRT, kedua-dua mangsa adalah sebahagian daripada pasukan teknikal yang berada di laluan bersebelahan landasan kereta api untuk menyiasat amaran kecemasan alat penghantar isyarat.

    Kebenaran diluluskan bagi mereka memasuki landasan, menurut Pengarah Urusan SMRT Lee Ling Wee di satu sidang media yang diadakan hari ini (22 Mac).

    Pengendali Pengangkutan itu juga menambah, seorang penyelia sedang berjalan di hadapan kedua-dua mangsa sebelum tragedi itu berlaku.

    Bagaimana kemalangan itu boleh berlaku meskipun mereka mematuhi protokol?

    Ini menurut CEO SMRT Desmond Quek akan disiasat.

    Polis juga sedang menyiasat kemalangan itu.

    Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

  • Respect The Families Of Deceased SMRT Staff, Stop Spreading Rumours And Pictures Of Their Bodies

    Respect The Families Of Deceased SMRT Staff, Stop Spreading Rumours And Pictures Of Their Bodies

    Bro

    Many people very eager to share about the accident where the two SMRT staff pass away. Both Allahyarham Nasrulhudin Najumudin and Allahyarham Muhammad Asyraf Ahmad Buhari, were good human beings and had many plans ahead of them. As the saying goes,we human beings can plan, but Allah determine everything.

    Many people have shown their frustration and even more have showed support to the family.

    Unfortunately some, who may be too eager to share the news, have shared unverified information about the accident like people jumping down and what not. This does not help the family and the SMRT staff who are present during the accident.

    Then there’s another group who have been sharing photos of the bodies. This to me, is very very disrespectful. People should stop sharing this kind of photos.It does not mean that the photos are on the internet so people have the right to just share it with their friends.

    Losing a loved one is a painful experience but losing someone so young in such a public, gruesome manner is just unimaginable. Put yourself in the shoes of the parents.

    So if you dont mind, stop sharing the photos and spreading rumours.

    Respect the family’s privacy and allow them to grieve. Respect the deceased too.

     

    Abg Man

    [Reader Contribution]