KTMB : MOT appoints, RUM picket...anything else?

Unfortunately for Abd Razak, his appointment as KTMB's MD is oppossed by Lim Ah Lek, Chairman of KTMB. And for those who did not recall Lim Ah Lek, he is the sworn nemesis of Ling "fish head curry" Liong Sik. Lim, it is said, decided to quit his Chairman's post in protest and will only return to assume the post once Abd Razak vacated the MD's post. Kind of deja vu ala Perak's Sultan Idris and Ghazali Jawi, isn't it?

1. KTMB (Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) managed to get my attention, again, this week. It seems that KTMB is going into an endless downward spin since the resignation of the former MD, the guy who celebrate his birthday on the same date as our Merdeka. No prize for guessing the correct name, okay?
   
2. Since 1st September 2008 or thereabout, KTMB has been helmed by Abd Razak, former Freight GM. Frankly, he has fresh ideas on how to turn around KTMB. And of course, being an old hand in KTMB, he had some scores to settle with his many GMs' too.
3. Unfortunately for Abd Razak, his appointment as KTMB's MD is oppossed by Lim Ah Lek, Chairman of KTMB. And for those who did not recall Lim Ah Lek, he is the sworn nemesis of Ling "fish head curry" Liong Sik. Lim, it is said, decided to quit his Chairman's post in protest and will only return to assume the post once Abd Razak vacated the MD's post. Kind of deja vu ala Perak's Sultan Idris and Ghazali Jawi, isn't it?
4. You see, our government has this special unwritten arrangement whereby KTMB's chairman must be from MCA. For further confirmation, please refer to Ong "PKFZ's minister" TK. However, due to this complication, Mohd Isa is now the acting Chairman.
   
5. Barely a year on the job, Razak has been informally informed that his tenure will not be extended. His last day shall be on 31st July 2009, 1 month short of 1 year's service, courtesy of Lim Ah Lek.
6. So, here comes the crunch. Who get's the MD's post? For the past few months, it has been srongly established that since there might be too many fractions in KTMB's management, Ministry of Transport (MOT) has decided to opt for a KTMB outsider to lead. Few names has been floated around.
   
7. As late as middle June, the person who will most likely head KTMB is said to be linked to YTL's Express Rail Link (ERL). ERL's CEO, perhaps? Then the bombshell...
8. Railway Union of Malaya (RUM) threathened to hold a picket on 29th June 2009 against the appointment of Sarbini Tijan as the acting KTMB MD. Does this mean that the "man from ERL" is out of running?
   
9. KTMB should be concentrating on how to improve its service. It's komuter trains are still experiencing delays and it's hybrid trains are still ineffective. Some coaches run without proper HVAC system. Instead, the minister, the ministry, KTMB's BOD, KTMB's management and RUM is playing dangerous politics. Worse, it is at the consumers' expense!
10. Whatever it is, MOT should place the consumers' comfort as their priority in KTMB's service. It is not a matter of juggling names and positions, what more when KTMB is a semi-government agency. This is not a matter of placating to 1M PM6's wish to have people from private sectors to run GLCs'. The minister concerned should be looking more into the capability and the experience of the person who shall be leading KTMB. A PHd holder he may be, but a miracle performer he is not. A CEO he is, but a prime mover he is not.
11. KTMB is not similar to ERL. KTMB is made up of many divisions, departments and deals with various type of customers. It does not monopolise the routes and it is not working under government's favouritism. You see, for those using ERL, the passengers are paying RM 35 for a one way trip between KL Sentral and KLIA. On top of that, it was previously mentioned that, a portion of the airline ticket goes to ERL. That's favouritism.
12. KTMB, on the other hand, is working on subsidies and restrictions. In short, KTMB is definitely not government's favourite child. KTMB has not raise its fares since ages ago and its freight service, which also happen to be its most profitable arm, has its fees capped to cater YTL cement, Robert's CSR and others. That is the state of KTMB today. They could not expand further because all their capital expenditures are controlled by the government and they could not have the best pricing in double tracking project because the government prefers to nominate the contractors, one of them is MMC-Gamuda JV. Who is in Gamuda's BOD? That is the predicament of KTMB...
13. However, whatever shortcomings faced by KTMB, it should take that as a challenge to provide better and more efficient service. To do so, all the relevant parties should reach a consensus, acceptable to all. I call for the MD, if there is a need to change the present MD, to be selected from the current crop of existing GMs'. This is to ensure continuity and better understanding of the problems facing KTMB's operations. Importing one from outside is not the solution, rather it would be adding more problems to the already many problems straddling KTMB.
14. 1M PM6 can talk what he wants about integrating private sectors to GLCs'. If he wants to do that, he can start with appointing one at Khazanah or any proven cash cows and see their performance. But not at KTMB which is already in ICU condition due to the continual ineptness of past and present Transport Ministers.
15. For a start, KTMB needs a dose of performance enhanced injection. Staffs at all levels should be combining their resources, abilities to brainstorm the best ways to move KTMB forward whilst the Minister, MOT and the rest should lay their hands off KTMB, the government's GLCs' unwanted child.
16. Whilst I am at it, 1M PM6 should be advising his partner to reduce prolific speeches in boosting nurseries and permatas everywhere when there are plenty of rumours going around on how the partner treat (badly/disown) her own flesh and blood. They use to say that "leadership by example", so it is time for 1M PM6 to lead by example. Can he lead a good example? Because someone used to say too that "charity begins at home"...because sometimes you have to act cruel to be kind.
    
17. For some, hero-worshipping is the way to survive. Others heap praises to the leaders to enter their good books. A few grease their way into the "inner circle" whilst the rest prefer to stay out of the circle altogether. Which one is you?
18. KTMB and 1M PM6. 2 different subjects but entwined, due to fate and timing. We have to take the bulls by its horns and this is no spanish bull we are talking about. It is just a malaysian bull, small and timid but a bull nonetheless.
    
19. Will KTMB moves forward post Razak's era or will it keep spiraling down? Will 1M PM6 lead by example now that hopes of the unity government is dashed? Time will tell and only KTMB and 1M PM6 can decide their own fate and choose their own path...right or wrong, decision must be made. Me? I am just glad that I do not have to made that decision...
    

Till then...G'nite M'sia...wherever u are...