PDI-P Criticises Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection: The Right Solution is to Fix the System, Not Move the Carriage

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The head of the PDI-P faction group in the DPR RI’s Commission VIII, Selly Andriany Gantina, believes that the solution to public transportation safety issues cannot be limited to merely relocating the position of the women’s-only carriage on trains.

Selly made this statement in response to the proposal from the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, who suggested moving the women’s-only carriage on the KRL to the middle of the train set.

“The right solution is to fix the system, not just move the passenger positions,” Selly said when contacted on Wednesday (29/4/2026).

This is because, in accident incidents, carriages in vulnerable positions are indeed the most severely affected.

“If asked whether this is a solution-oriented and sufficient approach, I believe we cannot stop at relocation alone. Because the root of the problem is not the position of women at the end or in the middle, but the railway safety system,” Selly stated.

“Do not let the impression arise that women’s protection is built on the logic of sacrificing other parties. Public safety must not be based on who is placed as a risk shield,” Selly emphasised.

Furthermore, Selly explained that there are three main aspects that, in her view, need to be the focus of government improvements.

First, a total evaluation of the transportation safety system, not just the carriage composition.

She stressed the importance of overhauling the signalling system, collision mitigation, emergency procedures, train set resilience, and passenger protection design during accidents.

“If the system is safe, the carriage position will not be the main issue,” Selly said.

Selly noted that the existence of women’s carriages is an important form of affirmation to prevent harassment and violence in public spaces.

However, according to her, this affirmation should not be limited to physical position relocation, but through strengthening overall security standards.