SMRT has replaced a senior executive in charge
of maintenance and systems after last Saturday's flooding of a
tunnel on the North-South Line (NSL).
The rail operator told its staff in an internal
circular yesterday that Mr Siu Yow Wee has been appointed director
of building and services, taking over from Mr Ng Tek Poo,
vice-president of maintenance.
Mr Siu will manage the entire building and services
division and report to the senior vice-president of maintenance and
engineering, the circular said.
The Straits Times understands that Mr Ng has been
redeployed to another role.
In the incident, which rendered a large stretch of the
NSL inoperable for about 20 hours, rain water entered the tunnel at
Bishan where the tracks go underground.
Pumps installed to remove water from the tunnels in
such situations did not kick in because a float switch was
apparently stuck. The underground tracks were submerged in water at
waist level at its deepest.
At least one train was stranded in the tunnel.
Fortunately, passengers managed to disembark at Bishan before the
train stalled.
On the same day, a fire broke out in the tunnel between
Marina Bay and Raffles Place stations. Although the cause has not
been ascertained, past tunnel fires have been traced to short
circuits caused by water.
Asked to comment, SMRT vice-president for corporate
communications Patrick Nathan said: "We do not comment on staff
matters. We are strengthening our building and facilities team in
the light of last weekend's disruption."
Mr Ng was a key witness at a public inquiry following
two major rail disruptions in December 2011.
The inquiry concluded that shortcomings in maintenance
were a major contributing factor in the breakdowns.
Commenting on SMRT's move to replace Mr Ng, Mr Harish
Pillay, a fellow of the Institution of Engineers Singapore, said:
"We are not hearing any voice from the top on this (flooding)
issue. I am not saying the head has to come out all the time to say
something, but this situation calls for it."
TNP
