Monorail captain honoured for swift action when uprooted tree fell on tracks

SHAH ALAM - When we think of heroes, we often picture masked vigilantes or legendary figures. However, heroes come in all forms and sometimes they are ordinary people doing extraordinary things in their daily lives.

Consider a monorail captain, for instance. He does not have superpowers. He is simply a man in uniform, operating a monorail as part of his job.

That captain, Ahmad Zahiruddin Nordin was recently awarded an appreciation certificate by Transport Minister Anthony Loke for his quick actions when an uprooted tree fell on the tracks.

During the incident which happened in Kuala Lumpur on May 7, Zahiruddin immediately stopped the train, ensuring the safety of all 30 passengers on board.

Loke in a video posted on his Instagram dated May 25, lauded Zahiruddin’s heroic actions highlighting how his swift action prevented a potential disaster.

The minister expressed gratitude for Zahiruddin's bravery.

"Several years ago, Zahiruddin faced a similar incident with a fallen tree on the monorail, which made him very cautious and focused while driving the monorail during heavy rain.

"I have informed @myrapidkl that we should appreciate such quick actions. Therefore, on May 23, I presented a certificate of appreciation to him for his brave and swift actions," Loke wrote in the caption of the post.

On May 7, a local man died and another was injured after a fallen tree hit 17 vehicles and the monorail track during heavy rain and strong winds in Jalan Sultan Ismail in Kuala Lumpur.