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
