MAHB told off over escalator incident
I don’t know what else to say, maybe they wait until people fall down and die, only then they will take action.
BINTULU: Bintulu MP Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing yesterday chided Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad ( MAHB) for not taking the malfunctioning escalators incident at Bintulu Airport seriously.
Around 7pm on Tuesday, the steps of an escalator at the airport broke apart. Fortunately no one was using the escalator during that time.
“I don’t know what else to say, maybe they wait until people fall down and die, only then they will take action,” he told reporters yesterday.
Several cases had been reported regarding the malfunctioning of the escalators and Tiong said eight people had been injured, leaving one victim with a broken leg.
In December last year, four members of Zhang Clan of Muar Johor Association suffered a nasty fall after an escalator at the airport suddenly halted as they ascended towards the departure hall.
The impact from the sudden jerk caused the four to tumble down over the steps. One of them, Teo Bee Giok, sustained several bone fractures and had to be rushed to a medical centre where she later underwent surgery.
“Imagine if there are people on the escalators during that time, what will happen. The maintenance company of the escalators must take this responsibility together with MAHB.
“MAHB, don’t just mislead in your reports, saying no problem, no parts, now what happened?” he asked.
He said MAHB must take proactive measures to remove or replace any facility that is faulty or considered obsolete, particularly the escalators.
He also said it is MAHB’s responsibility to ensure that the maintenance of and inspection of escalators at the airports are being carried out periodically to avoid any untoward incident from happening and recurring.
The management, he added, must make sure that all facilities at the terminal building are in good condition and safe for public use.
Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, Bintulu MP