Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Apologises Over KRL Carriage Proposal, Safety Becomes Priority Regardless of Gender

JAKARTA - The Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, has expressed her apologies for her suggestion to move women-only KRL carriages to the middle of the train. She acknowledged that her proposal was ill-timed and stressed that safety is the utmost priority regardless of whether passengers are male or female. “I extend my deepest apologies to the entire community, particularly to the victims and their families who felt hurt or uncomfortable by that statement,” Arifah said in a statement posted on the Ministry of PPPA’s Instagram account on Wednesday night (29/4/2026). “We all agree that the safety of the entire community is the number one priority, for both women and men,” she added. “I understand that in a time of mourning like this, the main focus should be on safety, victim handling, and empathy for all affected families,” Arifah stated. Currently, the government’s top priority is to ensure the best handling for all victims, whether deceased or injured. Her office is present to make sure the rights of victims and children left behind by their parents in this tragedy are not neglected. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives in this incident. The Ministry of PPPA is committed to providing psychological counselling, protection, and necessary support, especially for children and victims’ families experiencing trauma from this event,” Arifah said. “Let us all focus our attention on victim handling, prayers, and efforts to improve the public transport safety system so that similar tragedies do not recur. The safety of all passengers must be the highest priority in all future transport policies,” she continued. The proposal arose after an accident that caused fatalities, including passengers in the women-only carriage, which is typically at the end of the train. “So, men at the ends. The front and back for men, so women in the middle,” Arifah said at RSUD dr. Chasbullah Abdulmadjid in Bekasi City on Tuesday (28/4/2026). According to Arifah, positions at the front and rear of the carriage carry higher risks during collisions. Nevertheless, she clarified that the suggestion was preliminary and had not been further discussed.