Kuala lumpur: Access to the area, the response time of the rescue team, and the dissemination of information are among the aspects that will be evaluated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) through emergency training on the EX-Kemubu route.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, KTMB Occupational Safety, Health and Environment general manager Khairul Naim Johdi emphasized the importance of assessing these factors, particularly due to the area's remote location, which can present challenges for rescue teams in gaining immediate access. "The main challenge in rural areas is access, which may take time. That's why this training is important to see how quickly the rescue agencies can respond after receiving information from KTMB," he stated at the EX-Kemubu Emergency Response Training Programme.
Khairul Naim explained that the training's effectiveness would be evaluated through a 'post-mortem' process, incorporating feedback from involved agencies. This includes examining response delays, actions of first responders, access entry, and information dissemination. He noted that EX-Kemubu was selected as the training site due to its risky features, such as routes near rivers and its isolated location.
The training involved approximately 350 participants from 11 agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, the Ministry of Health, the Malaysian Civil Defense Force, and the Department of Social Welfare. Khairul Naim highlighted that large-scale emergency drills are conducted annually in rotation across KTMB's four operational regions, supplemented by smaller exercises throughout the year to enhance personnel proficiency.
"In rural areas, access is usually a bit of a problem. That aspect needs to be improved, along with internal coordination and notification so that information can be conveyed earlier," he remarked. He also stressed the importance of ensuring KTMB staff are trained in emergency procedures, including passenger evacuation.
He further explained that in the event of an emergency, the first step is to contact the 'operation controller' at the KTMB control centre. The information is then relayed to relevant agencies for immediate action. The training aims to ensure that, in the case of a real incident on the Dabong and Kemubu route, all parties understand their roles and can act efficiently to safeguard passengers and staff.