Its deputy minister, Ab Aziz Kaprawi, said they would instead be absorbed into KTMB’s subsidiary companies.
“I guarantee that the salaries, profits and whatever benefits enjoyed by KTMB employees now will not be lost or reduced,” he said at a press conference held at the Dewan Rakyat today.
RNAA is an agreement between Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), an agency under the transport ministry, and KTMB.
The RNAA is in accordance with Clause 89 of the Railways Act 1991 to separate the rail services operations managed by KTMB from the ownership, management and maintenance of all railway assets to be managed by RAC.
Aziz also dismissed claims that railway ticket prices and KTMB services would be affected by the RNAA.
“The rumour that the agreement would result in KTMB being more prone to abuse and cronyism is not correct,” he said.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) had urged the government to review the proposal for the RNAA because it would have a major impact on KTMB and its employees.
On the accident involving an express bus at Km151.9 of the North-South Expressway (PLUS), near the Bukit Tambun toll plaza in Penang early today, Aziz said the ministry was investigating the matter.
“A detailed investigation, which includes the technical aspects, will be carried out to determine the cause of the accident, and if the driver is found guilty, legal action will be taken.”
In the incident at 4.20am, a female passenger, aged 29, died while six others were seriously injured when the bus was believed to have skidded, collided into the road divider and overturned.