Global Courant
A video of male passengers in a newly implemented female-only coach on the Malaysian MRT train has angered netizens.
The short video on TikTok showed the men were on the bus outside peak hours, despite pink signs clearly stating it was for women only.
“I can’t blame them… they’re just Ken,” the video’s caption read, referencing a song in the blockbuster Barbie that satirizes toxic masculinity.
It was recorded and posted on TikTok by a user named shueeewenn on September 19, a day after RapidKL introduced a women-only coach for trains on Kuala Lumpur’s MRT Kajang Line.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the measure was taken in response to concerns from female commuters about the sexual harassment they face on crowded trains.
The women-only carriage, located in the middle of the train, is marked with special pink stickers, which can also be found on the MRT station platforms and on the doors.
The 13-second video provoked angry reactions from commuters.
“Don’t they feel shame?” one commenter asked, while another said they simply read “ken’not,” addressing the Barbie song.
“You should just give them sanitary pads,” a third commenter said sarcastically.
Some asked what the authorities are doing about this problem.
“Please, RapidKL, we have advised them many times (about the same thing),” said commenter Ally.
Mr Muhammad Fuad proposed imposing fines on men boarding the all-female coach.
“RapidKL and MoT (Ministry of Transport) should propose a fine to be published in parliament. Only then would the authorities be able to do their work more easily,” he said.
Currently, there is a fine for men who step into women’s coaches.
In a follow-up video on September 20, shueeewenn said an auxiliary police officer sat on the bus and asked male commuters to leave.
This is not the first time that men have boarded all-female coaches in Malaysia.
Commuter rail operator KTM has a women-only coach for its KTM Komuter suburban train, which was launched on April 28, 2010, but men have also been seen on it.
The carriage is indicated inside and outside the carriage with pink stickers with the words “Coach for Ladies Only”.
Women have been seen scolding the men for occupying the coach.
“(There was) one time a bunch of guys went in and this one lady yelled at them to go because they wouldn’t listen when she spoke kindly… it was so satisfying,” said commenter qissyna.
However, some netizens defended the men’s actions.
“To be honest, I (definitely) wouldn’t have noticed (was only women’s coach),” Kieran said.
Another user, Lixuan, said her brother only realized he was in the women’s coach halfway through his trip because “he was too preoccupied with his phone.”
