SMRT (passengers) fined $200,000 for Bishan depot security breach

SMRT (passengers) fined $200,000 for Bishan depot security breach

Train operator SMRT has been fined $200,000 by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for a security breach at its Bishan depot that resulted in a vandalised train.

The incident happened earlier this year on May 17, when graffiti was found on a northbound MRT train. The words 'Jet Setter' were spray-painted in blue on one side of a train carriage.

Investigations by LTA revealed that SMRT had 'failed to exercise the due diligence and vigilance expected of a public transport operator'.

The LTA said SMRT did not 'regularly inspect, continuously maintain and repair its operating facilities'.

It also criticised SMRT for failing to oversee daily security operations at its depots and fully implement the security measures recommended by the Public Transport Security Committee (PTSC) after the Changi depot incident last year.

SMRT was fined $50,000 for the Changi incident that took place in May 2010.

Due to its negligence, LTA said SMRT had 'failed to effectively guard against unauthorised intrusions'.

It found that the operator had failed to detect in a timely manner the breach and the graffiti on one of its MRT trains on Aug 17.

Therefore, SMRT was concluded to have breached its obligations under the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Licence & Operating Agreement (LOA).

The fine collected will be donated to the Public Transport Fund to help needy families with transport fares.

The LTA further added that it will be closely tracking and auditing SMRT's performance, so that they adhere to the public transport security standards that have been set.

http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20111018-305681.html

wa ha ha....200K? What a joke.

CEO continue to receive fat pay check, fat share options...n next year still happily apply to PTC for fare rise.

MRT to take full responsibility for depot security breach
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid | Posted: 22 August 2011 1711 hrs

SINGAPORE: Singapore public transport operator SMRT said it is taking full responsibility for the security breach at its Bishan depot, which resulted in a train carriage being sprayed with graffiti.

A committee will also be set up to conduct a comprehensive review of security measures.

CEO Saw Phaik Hwa said she will be personally chairing the committee, which will be made up of independent security experts.

SMRT had earlier said the intrusion went undetected, as security guards did not conduct night patrols. However, the security agency, Evtec Management Services, has defended itself, saying the area was out of bounds to its personnel.

SMRT has now made clear its position.

She said: "The incident happened in our depot, on our trains. And as a company, SMRT has to be ultimately responsible for what has happened, so there should not be finger-pointing, because it is our commitment to ensure the safety of our trains.

"Now is the time for us to do what it takes to make it right, and if the LTA (Land Transport Authority) fines us, then so be it."

In the first graffiti incident in May last year, SMRT was fined S$50,000.

When asked if anyone will be taken to task for this security breach, Ms Saw said: "I need to see all the facts, and that is what is really important to me. I really fully want to see what happened and why it happened.

"I am taking this personally as the CEO of this company to really fully understand what happened. So whether we deal with anyone in any way...it's a separate matter. Currently, my first focus is to make sure that it does not happen (again)."

Ms Saw said the committee to undertake a full review of the company's security measures will be set up as soon as possible. She said she is already in the process of contacting some experts to be part of the committee and added that she does not see this as a one time set-up, as regular reviews should be conducted.

She said: "The management of the current security (measures) will not be involved in this review, so that it is truly independent. There is no cover up, there's no cutting of corners or anything like that. We want to have a system that's truly comprehensive and will hold up to test."

Ms Saw said the top priority for the company now is to ensure all security gaps are immediately addressed. As the perimeter defence is the most important in preventing any sort of breach, the company's management will play a more active role in ensuring that security personnel conduct their patrols as required.

She said a visual check of the interior and exterior of all trains will also be conducted before they leave the depots.

On whether the incident will jeopardise its tender for the new Downtown Line, Ms Saw said SMRT has been recognised as one of the best train operators in the world.

She said: "Running the train system is not about a fence breach or a graffiti, it is about everything else you do and you do it right all the time.

"As I've said many times, you cannot guarantee a train does not break down. But what we can guarantee is that we'll try hard (to ensure) that it rarely breaks down and when it breaks down, we'll take care of it as quickly as possible."

Ms Saw added that SMRT is working towards "zero penetration" and will do everything possible to ensure a third breach does not happen.

The breach at Bishan Depot, was discovered last Wednesday morning and SMRT said it is assisting in the investigations to apprehend the culprits.

In a statement on Monday evening, the Ministry of Transport said the committee to be led by SMRT CEO Saw Phaik Hwa is separate and distinct from the ongoing investigations being undertaken by the LTA and the Singapore Police Force.

The ministry also added that the LTA and SPF had earlier commenced their investigations into the breach immediately after it was discovered.

A spokesperson said the ministry is open to taking into account the findings from SMRT's investigations. But LTA, as the industry regulator, will draw its own conclusions independently.

-CNA/ac

200k...they can earn that prob in a day lor...

sense said:

...
CEO Saw Phaik Hwa said she will be personally chairing the committee, which will be made up of independent security experts.
:
:
"I am taking this personally as the CEO of this company to really fully understand what happened. So whether we deal with anyone in any way...it's a separate matter. Currently, my first focus is to make sure that it does not happen (again)."
:
:

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Ah Hwa is taking it personally and seeing to it that the passengers will pay for the $200,000 via some hikes in the future (again), and covering this up by claiming that SMRT losses are due to blah blah and blah.

Shareholders of SMRT to Ah Hwa: That's another clever cover-up, Hwa! Good girl.

sense said:

Ah Hwa is taking it personally and seeing to it that the passengers will pay for the $200,000 via some hikes in the future (again), and covering this up by claiming that SMRT losses are due to blah blah and blah.

Shareholders of SMRT to Ah Hwa: That's another clever cover-up, Hwa! Good girl.

Click to expand...

ya...taking it personally...pls immediately resign Ms Saw.

red amoeba said:

ya...taking it personally...pls immediately resign Ms Saw.

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SMRT shareholders will try their best to keep Ah Hwa as the CEO as she has demonstrated at the highest level, the ability to protect their interest.

A new CEO who starts to look after the interest of the passengers would mean less $$ for the shareholders, thus must be avoided at all cost.