Public safety must be given greater priority when rolling out infrastructure projects, especially as the government commits to expanding public transport systems, experts say.
Transport consultant Rosli Azad Khan and associate professor Bernard Saw Lip Huat of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) said safety should be non-negotiable and must be the foremost consideration in the planning, approval, and execution of any public transport infrastructure project in Malaysia.
While operations of public transport systems, for instance, need to be fast and effective, safety issues will ultimately cause interruption, damage, increase costs and in severe cases, injuries and death.
Saw, of Utar’s Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, stressed that safety must be embedded from the earliest design and planning stages, with proper risk assessment, redundancy in engineering controls, adherence to global safety standards, and continuous public engagement.
“Failure in engineering design and development can lead to devastating consequences in terms of human lives and public confidence.
“Public infrastructure must be safe and resilient and protect the public who use it,” he said.
Rosli noted that regardless of the urgency or political push to deliver infrastructure quickly, compromising safety undermines public trust, endangers lives, and could result in long-term economic losses due to accidents, system failures, or costly retrofits.
He stressed that the cost of cutting corners is far greater than doing things right from the start.
Meanwhile, former Prasarana Malaysia Bhd managing director and MRT Corp CEO Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar said safety considerations are not only critical for public transport but also for water supply infrastructure and public buildings.
Their comments come at a time when public tragedies involving infrastructure failures have reignited concerns over safety – such as last year’s Jalan Masjid India sinkhole, the 2021 MRR2 flyover scaffolding collapse, and the 1988 collapse of the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge in Butterworth, which killed 32 people.
Are existing public safety regulations adequate?
When asked if Malaysia’s existing safety requirements are sufficient, Rosli said that while a regulatory framework does exist, its effectiveness is often weakened by inconsistent enforcement, fragmented oversight, and a lack of inter-agency coordination.
He explained that agencies such as the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM), Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH), and local authorities all have roles to play – but the ecosystem often operates in silos.
This, he said, creates gaps – particularly at project interfaces or in cases where close coordination is critical.
“For example, when elevated rail construction intersects with roads or highways near public amenities such as hospitals or schools, safety needs become more pronounced and paramount.
“Moreover, current safety requirements tend to be compliance-based rather than performance- or risk-based.
“This limits their effectiveness in anticipating and mitigating complex, real-world safety issues,” he added.
Rosli also emphasised the need for a stronger focus on safety monitoring during construction and maintenance, rather than only at the approval or pre-construction stages.
Meanwhile, Saw called for consistent enforcement, timely regulatory updates, and greater accountability. He pointed to high-profile incidents in the past, such as the 2021 LRT collision in Kelana Jaya, highway structure collapses, and delayed emergency responses.
“(These incidents) highlight critical gaps in implementation, coordination among agencies, and safety monitoring, especially during construction and early operational phases.
“Safety responsibilities are often spread across multiple agencies, consultants, and contractors,” he added.
Independent audits needed
Both Rosli and Saw called for mandatory, third-party safety audits for all large-scale public transport infrastructure projects prior to commissioning. These audits must be conducted independently of the contractor and consultant teams, with findings directly influencing final project approvals.
Saw further suggested that safety performance data, incident reports, and audit outcomes be published mandatorily, arguing that transparent reporting fosters a more accountable and safety-conscious project culture.
Stronger enforcement, heavier penalties
Shahril, drawing from his experience in the public transport sector, said the core problem lies not in legislation, but in enforcement.
“Therefore, I think regulators, in particular, need to go down more frequently. Not just reviewing the manuals or guidelines, but also doing safety audits from time to time,” he said, citing the auditor-general’s role as a watchdog that should be emulated.
He said more frequent audits would ensure contractors and project owners are aware that regulators can inspect at any time.
“If they find impropriety, (rules) not being followed, then fines must be imposed. (Usually) if they find something critical not being followed as per the law, they just impose a RM5,000 to RM10,000 fine.
“It doesn’t work that way. (The fines) should be more so that it’s very meaningful and has an impact on the project.”
Shahril cited the new aerotrain at KLIA to emphasise that safety can never be compromised.
“Despite the urgency for the train to be operational, MAHB and the Transport Ministry did not rush the process.
“The train’s 2,000km fault-free run of safety testing had to be completed before commissioning it for the public,” he added.
This article originally appeared on Scoop.my and was written by Scoop journalist, R. Dineskumar. 
