SMRT completes flooding investigations involving six staff and seven managers

SMRT has completed its investigations into the maintenance of the Bishan water discharge system, the rail operator announced on Monday (6^th November). In a statement, SMRT said its investigations revealed falsified maintenance records by the team assigned to carry out works on the system between December last year and June this year. Disciplinary action will be taken against the six-member team from the Building and Facilities Maintenance group, made up of a manager, an engineering supervisor and four other crew members.

"A further inquiry is being conducted against seven other managerial staff from this maintenance group, including two vice president-level executives, all of whom have been suspended, with respect to their discharge of supervisory responsibility," said the rail operator. It added, "As part of our value system of shared responsibility and accountability, the company will also take this incident into account when reviewing the remuneration of its senior management, from the CEO through the relevant chain of command."

In response, National Transport Workers' Union (NTWU) Executive Secretary Melvin Yong called on SMRT to share information on its investigations with the NTWU, and include the union in its disciplinary inquiry. Mr. Yong added that the union hopes SMRT will take a 'balanced approach' in both its investigations and disciplinary inquiry. "We also urge SMRT to define clearly and communicate what amnesty means and how it would be administered fairly to allay workers' concerns on the ground and ensure that workers would not suffer undue stress by the process," he said.

SMRT is also cooperating with the Land Transport Authority's investigations into the flooding incident on 7^th October, which are ongoing. The firm also noted that it is currently studying 'a number of submissions' it had received relating to the scheduled maintenance works not being carried out - also from the Building and Facilities Maintenance group - following an offer of amnesty to report maintenance lapses, which ended last Friday (3^rd November).

Other maintenance units, such as rolling stock, signalling and communications, permanent way and power maintenance, have also been assessed, and found to be compliant with specified maintenance standards. The rail operator added that its newly formed Joint Readiness Inspection team - announced last Tuesday - will step up on 'enforcement of ground practices and standards', assisting its existing internal audit and inspectorate teams.