MRT Corp: Azhar to remain CEO until probe into accident complete

PETALING JAYA: The board of directors of Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) says it will only consider the resignation of chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid (pic) once the investigation into last Monday’s fatal accident at the Kota Damansara MRT site is completed and made public.

The board said Azhar would continue helming the corporation as the Klang Valley MRT project had made good progress under him.

“The board has evaluated his (Azhar’s) performance since he was appointed in Sept 2011.

“The board found that MRT Corp was heading in the correct direction, as evidenced in the Klang Valley MRT project achieving good progress at 50% completion, which was ahead of schedule. The board also found the financial management of the project commendable,” it said in a statement on Tuesday, after a meeting to discuss the matter.

The board also promised to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the accident, as instructed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“The investigation will determine the party or parties which were responsible for the incident. The appropriate action in accordance with the law will be taken once the party or parties are determined,” it added.

Three Bangladeshi workers were killed when an MRT viaduct deck in Kota Damansara toppled from its piers and fell onto the ground last Monday.

Azhar submitted his resignation on Tuesday, a day after the incident.

Investigations into the incident are on-going and expected to be completed next month.

The board meeting was chaired by MRT Corp chairman Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and was attended by board members Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah, Datuk Dr Rahamat Bivi Yusoff, Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, Datuk Che Mokhtar Che Ali and Azhar.