Prasarana under finance ministry, not transport, Wee tells Kok
The ex-transport minister asks what happened to Prasarana’s promise to cover the medical costs of victims in the 2021 LRT collision.
PETALING JAYA: Former transport minister Wee Ka Siong says it was not for him to offer anything to the victims of the 2021 LRT collision as the rail system’s owner and operator fell under the purview of the finance ministry.
Responding to Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, Wee said the transport ministry was merely the regulator of the LRT line, and that none of the victims had filed a suit over the collision while he was minister.
“Teresa, have I questioned the current transport minister (Loke Siew Fook) on this issue? I did not mention him at all. You can check my statement yesterday. Why are you so eager to defend your party boss?
“The system’s owner, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, and operator, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd, are Minister of Finance (Incorporated) companies under the finance ministry and, in terms of their finances, the finance ministry has full jurisdiction,” he said in a Facebook post.
Yesterday, Wee urged the government to “do the humane thing” and settle a suit filed in December last year by Florence Lee, who suffered several injuries in the LRT collision.
Lee, who claimed that the crash was due to Prasarana and Rapid Rail’s negligence and breaches of statutory duty, is seeking RM113,524.08 in special damages.
The trial will only commence on Jan 10, 2028.
Kok, a DAP vice-chairman, asked why Wee had not offered anything to the victims during his time in office as transport minister, which ended in October 2022 after Parliament was dissolved.
Wee maintained that he had merely suggested Putrajaya settle the suit and compensate Lee rather than waiting four years for the trial to begin.
He said RM1,000 in special financial aid was given to all 213 passengers involved in the collision, with Prasarana stating it would cover all medical expenses, follow-up treatment and other related costs.
The Ayer Hitam MP said several other victims had also suffered “severe” injuries in the collision.
“Teresa, do you know who accompanied their families in the hospital until they were discharged? The answer is Wee Ka Siong. Am I not being humane?
“Not to forget, we must keep our promises. After the incident, Prasarana promised to cover all the medical costs, so what happened?”
Wee and MCA stabbed Harapan in the back during the recent KKB by-elections, but absolutely to no avail , proof enough of MCA's irrelevance.
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