Review of MOT and LTA Senior Staff Remuneration and Bonuses
Ministry of TransportSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the MRT tunnel flooding episode would affect the compensation of senior staff at the Ministry of Transport and Land Transport Authority. Member of Parliament Leon Perera raised this inquiry after bonuses for the MRT operator's maintenance team were impacted by the incident. Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan clarified that maintenance is the operator's responsibility, whereas the Land Transport Authority performs regulatory oversight using a risk-based approach. He noted that the Land Transport Authority had previously instructed the operator to maintain pump systems, but these actions were not completed in time. Minister for Transport Khaw Boon Wan concluded that as there were no regulatory lapses, the compensation of Ministry of Transport or Land Transport Authority staff remained unaffected.
Transcript
7 Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Transport in light of staff bonuses of the MRT operator's maintenance team being affected by the recent episode of MRT tunnel flooding, whether this episode will also affect the compensation paid to senior staff in the Ministry and LTA who have been tasked with oversight of the MRT operator and, if so, how.
Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The responsibility for maintaining rail lines, including the flood prevention systems, lies with the operators. As the regulator, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) sets the Operating and Maintenance Performance Standards and carries out regular audits of the operators' maintenance regime and onsite inspections to ensure that these standards are complied with. LTA takes a risk-based approach and prioritises resources in areas which are assessed to be most complex, have the highest risk of failure and which could potentially have the biggest impact on the rail network. The anti-flooding systems are considered less of a high-risk area compared to the other core railway systems as the constructs are relatively simple, easy to maintain and have ample provisions.
Nonetheless, on 29 September 2017, in accordance with its regulatory role, LTA did expressly highlight to Singapore Mass Rapid Transit the importance of regular and diligent maintenance of tunnel pump systems and to surface a list of pumps requiring replacement to LTA. Unfortunately, the remedial actions instructed by LTA were not taken in time. The flooding incident occurred before the replacement programme could be completed. There is no evidence of shortcomings or lapses in regulatory oversight by LTA or Ministry of Transport staff.