The MRT women’s coach was created to offer female commuters a safer and more considerate space but a recent viral video is challenging that idea.
In the clip, a woman on crutches is seen standing inside the crowded coach while fellow passengers remain seated, glued to their phones. The scene has sparked debate over whether the women’s coach is truly living up to its purpose.
The TikTok video, posted by user @natberacun, came with the caption:
Crowded train but zero empathy. Has anyone experienced this before?”
Happens more often than people think
The video immediately gained traction as netizens shared similar experiences of being ignored despite needing help.
One user, who is seven months pregnant, wrote: ‘When I enter the women’s coach, no one ever gives me their seat. Everyone pretends to sleep. Now I take the regular coach, and most of the men are the ones offering me their seats.’
Another user, questioned the behaviour inside the designated space: ‘Ever heard of the word ‘gentleman’? You won’t find it in the women-only coach.’
Others argued that the issue wasn’t gender-specific but a lack of awareness and empathy in general.
Even Rapid KL stepped in after the video went viral, commenting: ‘Hi there. Did you ask for a seat? We’re afraid some may not have noticed, but this shouldn’t happen. So sad.’
The original poster responded by sharing more context, revealing this wasn’t an isolated incident:
“This has happened three times. People clearly saw but ignored it. In this video I only needed to wait one station, so I let it go. The third time, a Prasarana police officer boarded the train. At first no one stood up, but only after being told did someone finally offer their seat.”
Hesitation due to past experiences
Not everyone blamed the passengers. One user shared why some Malaysians might hesitate: ‘I once offered my seat to someone who looked like they needed it, but they scolded me and said, ‘Do you think I want your sympathy?’ The embarrassment was real.’
Another user questioned the irony of the situation: ‘Isn’t it supposed to be women supporting women? This is the women’s coach, right? No one supported her.’
Meanwhile, a few viewers claimed they spotted an empty seat in the clip, suggesting that might explain why no one offered.
Watch the clip here:
