An Australian woman who has resided in Malaysia for 50 years was subjected to verbal abuse by a group of rowdy youths while traveling on a Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train from Klang to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia's National Day. The disturbing incident was brought to light by her daughter, Sheahnee Iman Lee, in a social media post.
According to FMT, the incident occurred in a women-only carriage, where the woman, a 72-year-old former schoolteacher, noticed a group of young men in the compartment. She kindly reminded them that they were not supposed to be there, as the carriage was designated for women only.
However, the youths reacted aggressively, asserting their right to be there simply because they were Malaysians. They responded with hostility, taking videos of the elderly woman and summoning more of their rowdy friends to fill up the coach. This escalation of the situation understandably caused distress for the woman and the other few ladies present.
In her Facebook post, Sheahnee expressed her frustration and disbelief at the behavior of the youths. Just because my mum's skin colour doesn't meet your standards, she has no right to speak up? she wrote. Just because you're Malaysian, you think you have the right to do whatever you wish?
Sheahnee also highlighted her mother's long-standing contributions to Malaysia. The former schoolteacher has dedicated her life to educating and developing local sports. She has also played a role in educating many of Malaysia's royalty and politicians and has consistently paid her taxes.
She chose to stay here most of her life, no matter how tough things were, and birthed two Malaysians, Sheahnee said, adding that her mother has witnessed both the highs and lows of Malaysia's development. After 67 years, I hope more of us can start to see beyond colour and focus more on our values, attitudes, mindsets, and hearts.
In response to the incident, Sheahnee shared that KTM reached out to her at 1 p.m. the following day to take her report on the matter. She noted that the KTM representatives were empathetic, listened openly, and were receptive to her feedback. They informed her that all KTM trains are equipped with intercom buttons that passengers can use to request help in case of emergencies.
However, Sheahnee pointed out that accessing the intercom in such situations can be challenging, especially when outnumbered by a large group of males. She suggested that KTM conduct random and regular spot checks to prevent men from encroaching on women-only carriages and to ensure the safety of all passengers.
Source: FMT
