For Priority Seats on KRL, the Invisible Need Must Prove with a Doctor's Note

In the midst of the packed KRL carriages during rush hour, priority seats often become a small space laden with a big issue: who is most entitled to sit there.

By regulation, priority seats are intended for the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities, and passengers with certain health conditions. However, in practice, the boundary between “those entitled” and “those in need” is often blurred.

Thalib (55), a resident of Jatinegara, East Jakarta, has keenly felt how priority seats do not always favour those in need.

“I often (don’t get priority seats on the KRL). I board, see the priority seats are full. But the people sitting look healthy. I stand holding the pole, even though my chest feels heavy,” said Thalib when contacted by Kompas.com on Thursday (9/4/2026).

He once tried directly asking for a priority seat occupied by a non-priority passenger. However, the response he received made him reluctant to repeat it.

“I once asked politely, but they looked me up and down, then said ‘Sir, you can still stand strong’,” he said.

That experience led him to take an unusual step, carrying a doctor’s certificate every time he travels.

“Now I carry a letter from the hospital. Once I showed it, the person stood up. But it feels sad, doesn’t it? Why do I have to prove it first to get it,” he said.

Thalib said that if he stands for too long, it can trigger a dangerous condition for him.

“If I stand too long, my chest can feel tight. The doctor said I must avoid fatigue. But on the KRL, it’s hard,” said Thalib.

A similar experience was faced by Elsa (29), a resident of Depok, West Java, who was met by Kompas.com at Manggarai Station on Wednesday.

Her young age actually makes her condition often ignored. In fact, she has a history of heart problems.