Transport Society: No Special Carriages for Men, but Mixed
Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi has proposed relocating women’s carriages on the KRL to the middle of the train consist, with men moved to the ends.
This proposal was made by Arifah following the collision of the Cikarang KRL women’s carriage from behind by the Long-Distance Train (KAJJ) Argo Bromo Anggrek at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4).
Nevertheless, Minister Arifah has already apologised for the controversial statement. Arifah admitted that her remarks were insensitive.
“Regarding my statement following the train accident at Bekasi Timur, I realise that the statement was inappropriate,” said Arifah, quoted from the official KemenPPPA account, on Wednesday (29/4).
“I offer my deepest apologies to all of society, especially to the victims and their families who felt hurt and uncomfortable by the statement,” she added.
In response to the polemic, Chairman of the Indonesian Transport Society Railway Transport Forum Deddy Herlambang clarified that there are no trains or special carriages for men. Besides the special women’s carriages, he said, the rest are carriages filled with mixed genders—men and women.
“The proposal to move the KKW [special women’s train] to the middle is absurd because it assumes there is a Special Women’s Train and a Special Men’s Train—which is actually a mixed train,” said Deddy via text message on Wednesday (29/4).
Deddy emphasised that the most important thing is not the position of the KKW in a train consist.
But he stressed that the most important aspect is passenger safety.
“The important thing is the railway safety management aspect itself,” he stated.
Deddy explained that the KKW is actually not a minimum service standard for trains.
He stated that it is a form of exclusive service bonus for women who are reluctant to mix in the train consist with men.
Meanwhile, Deddy explained the reason why the KKW is placed at the end of the consist is to facilitate women’s mobility in accessing the train.
“The KKW is placed at the end because it is Executive (special service); if placed in the middle, it would be full of women because most station entry and exit doors are in the middle,” he said.
Today, PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) President Director Bobby Rasyidin emphasised the safety standards for all passengers, both men and women, as the top priority.
He assured that there is no difference in the level of security protection between male and female service users on the train.
“We also need to emphasise that safety is our top priority,” said Bobby at Bekasi Timur Station on Wednesday.
Regarding the PPPA Minister’s proposal to relocate the women’s carriages on the KRL to the middle area and men to the end of the consist, Bobby said that this does not relate to the level of safety.
“We have absolutely no tolerance for violating or reducing the safety level for our customers and service users from PT Kereta Api Indonesia, whether male or female gender,” said Bobby.
The fatal accident involving the Electric Rail Train (KRL) and the Argo Bromo Anggrek train occurred at Bekasi Timur Station on Monday (27/4) night.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the tragedy has claimed 16 lives and 90 people injured, with details of 44 victims already allowed to go home and 46 other patients still under treatment.