KTMB improves guidelines on charter trains following Pinkfish Festival, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR: Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) has improved its guidelines on charter trains following the recent Pink Fish Festival incident, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said that the improvement includes the involvement of a senior staff member to ensure that the programme held on the train adheres to the terms and conditions stipulated.

“The charter train service operated by KTMB is a special charter train service for customers such as government-linked companies, government agencies, private companies from within and outside the country and associations.

“The activities planned in this special rental train are determined by the customer according to the guidelines, terms and conditions set by KTMB.

“Referring to the issue of the Charter Train on May 16, that travelled from Kuala Lumpur station to Serendah, KTMB has set terms and conditions such as the prohibition of smoking, alcohol consumption, drug abuse and not doing things that may violate the law. The customer has agreed to comply with the terms and conditions set by KTMB,” Loke said in a written reply to Datuk Ahmad Saad @ Yahaya (PN-Pokok Sena) on Tuesday (June 25).

Ahmad had asked the ministry to explain the recent Pink Fish Festival that had taken place inside a KTMB coach.

In May, PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said that the event went against Asian culture, which prioritises good manners, politeness and moderate entertainment.

He added that events such as the Pinkfish Express did not reflect Rukun Negara values and had tarnished the image of KTMB.

The Pinkfish Express, touted as South-East Asia's first entertainment festival on a train, was an event leading up to the Pinkfish Festival in the Klang Valley in June.