Peak-hour delays hit the Kelana Jaya Line again, sparking commuter anger over repeated disruptions and what many call ‘empty apologies’.

PETALING JAYA: Commuters on the Kelana Jaya Line faced another round of peak-hour disruptions this morning, with delays between Asia Jaya and Taman Bahagia stations after a train was operated manually.

In a brief update, Rapid KL said trains were moving slower than usual and stopping longer at platforms due to the issue.

ALSO READ: Commuters vent as LRT delays in Kelana Jaya line spark Monday rush chaos

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” it said in a post on X.

However, the apology did little to quell frustration online, with many users questioning why technical problems continue to surface during rush hour.

On X, user @hlmannnnn said this was already the third disruption during the fasting month, questioning why operators were surprised that people were reluctant to use public transport.

@kimminschim described the statement as an “empty apology”, claiming the issue keeps recurring during peak hours with “no improvement in sight”.

“This is an industry that affects the daily lives of the masses in the capital city and you should have known better.

“Try harder. Do better. This is extremely embarrassing,” the user wrote.

Another commuter, @offroadsechua_, vented that the same issue had occurred last week and questioned why checks were not carried out earlier.

“Why does it always happen during peak hour?

“And the notice comes at the last minute. The trains don’t just start operating at 7am — they begin earlier. Can’t you check first?” the user said.

User @shreepallavi07 also criticised the repeated announcements of “technical difficulties”, saying commuters could “sing along already”, and questioned why maintenance could not be carried out at night instead of during busy morning hours.

Others echoed similar sentiments, asking why breakdowns appear to occur during the morning rush rather than during off-peak periods.

On the ground, commuters described long queues and packed platforms at major interchanges.

Faizal Ruzairi, 28, who works near Masjid Jamek station, said the queue at KL Sentral stretched far back as passengers waited to board.

“This is a ridiculous everyday situation. I can’t take this anymore.

“Every time I’m a bit late, my bosses question those of us who take the train.

“They say there are alternative train services and shuttle trains, but with hundreds and thousands of people, how do you expect everyone to get on?”

Another commuter, who wanted to be known only as Serena, questioned the push for greater public transport usage amid frequent disruptions.

“What’s the point of asking us to take public transport when it breaks down all the time?

“If I drive, there’s traffic. If I take public transport, it breaks down. At least in my own car, I’m comfortable,” she said.

She added that repeated incidents since the start of Ramadan have made commuting more exhausting, warning that unreliable services could drive more people back to private vehicles.

“The fact that this has happened a few times since Ramadan started is frustrating.

“I really dislike taking public transport now. It’s no surprise people choose to drive, even if there are traffic jams, when the service is this unreliable,” she said.

The latest disruption comes a day after delays were reported along the same line following the long Chinese New Year break, further fuelling commuter anger over service reliability on one of the Klang Valley’s busiest rail corridors.

At Parliament yesterday, Jerlun MP Dr Abd Ghani Ahmad asked Transport Minister Anthony Loke about the effectiveness of rail maintenance and the government’s commitment to key performance indicators (KPIs), noting that LRT services had frequently broken down, especially during peak hours.

Loke said there has been continuous improvement, adding that mitigation measures implemented by Prasarana Malaysia Berhad to enhance maintenance have produced positive results.

“We have set a KPI whereby any train stoppage exceeding five minutes is classified as a disruption. So we want to ensure that if disruptions occur, they are rectified as quickly as possible,” he said.

He also noted that the number of rail service disruptions has declined significantly since 2022.

Loke added that the Transport Ministry and Prasarana will continue strengthening communication and passenger management to ensure rail services are more efficient and regain public confidence.

 The Sun Malaysia