The Association for the Improvement of Mass-Transit wishes to comment on the launch of women-only carriages, scheduled to take place tomorrow. Further information about the service can be found here and here.

Transit generally leans in favour of treating customers better, and according to KTMB, 60% of their customers are women. Hence, if the women-only carriage will make the passengers feel more comfortable, then this is a good for KTM, responding to a request from a majority of customers.

However - as we have stated clearly before, having the women-only carriages is not a substitute for improved security on the station platforms, in trains, and in the station areas themselves.

Too often, Transit has received complaints about the poor response from KTMB employees in cases of robbery, pickpocketing and harassment on KTM Komuter trains. In many of these cases, these uniformed employees are not security personnel and are therefore unable to properly respond to security situations.

Unfortunately, customers do not know this and are left feeling helpless and with the impression that KTM does not care for their safety, security and well-being.

It is also worth noting that many KTM Komuter stations are located in poorly-lit industrial or semi-industrial areas and there are often no KTMB security presence outside the station or in the parking areas.

Transit calls upon KTMB and KTM Komuter Sdn Bhd to follow-up on this marketing initiative of women-only coaches with more initiatives to improve security around KTM stations, on KTM station platforms, and in KTM Komuter trains.

This includes an expanded CCTV network, improved lighting and walkways in and around train stations, more information about safety procedures, improved emergency beacons/call stations, and an expansion of the Polis Bantuan service to put uniformed and plainclothes police on more KTM Komuter trains.

KTM has chosen ‘Moving 1Malaysia’ as their motto - they must not forget that it is their responsibility to be ‘Moving 1Malaysia’ safely at all times.