A Malaysian commuter’s encounter on an MRT train in Kuala Lumpur has gone viral after he shared how a man confronted him for not giving up his seat to a pregnant woman.
According to the post on Xiaohongshu, the incident happened during peak hours on an MRT line in KL while he was heading home from work.
Confrontation during rush hour
The OP wrote he was seated in the regular seating area and scrolling through his phone when a couple boarded the train — the woman was visibly pregnant, while the man appeared visibly displeased.
Instead of politely asking for a seat, the man allegedly stood in front of him and said:
You’re a man and you won’t give up your seat? Doesn’t your conscience hurt?”
In response, the OP replied by saying he wasn’t feeling well either and wished to stay seated.
This response reportedly angered the man, who raised his voice and accused him of being cold-hearted, saying: “People like you are the reason our society has become so cold! You won’t even give up your seat to a pregnant woman — what’s the point of living?”
Annoyed by the man’s remarks, the OP hit back, saying that manners matter and that it wouldn’t hurt for him to say “please” if he really wanted to get a seat for his pregnant wife.
War of words on MRT
The man then began insulting the OP, calling him all sorts of names and stood nearby while scolding him for about 10 minutes straight.
The OP said he initially considered giving up his seat, but decided not to after being verbally attacked by the man.
Eventually, a female passenger walked over and offered her seat to the pregnant woman.
Before the commuter alighted at his stop, the man reportedly hurled an insult at the OP, prompting him to sarcastically reply: “The next time you’re pregnant, I’ll definitely give you my seat.”
Was OP in the wrong?
The post has since sparked debate online, with some supporting the commuter’s point about manners, while others believe he should have offered the seat regardless of how the request was made.
‘Regular seats aren’t the same as priority seats, so there’s really no obligation to give them up. Giving up your seat out of kindness is great, but not giving it up doesn’t mean you’re wrong. Unless the priority seats are full of people who truly need them — but it’s rare for them to be completely full.‘
‘The other person’s tone sounds bad, he really should be a bit more polite — after all, no one likes being spoken to rudely. I’m 7 months pregnant now, and once I saw a priority seat was empty, but when I walked over, someone quickly rushed and took it before me. I was stunned, other passengers who saw it were also stunned. Fortunately, a kind young lady gave up her seat for me.’
‘Shocked to read the comments section. Isn’t it common courtesy to give up your seat to the elderly and pregnant women?’
