Indonesian Minister Apologizes Over Train Carriage Proposal

Indonesia’s Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Choiri Fauzi, has issued a public apology following backlash over a proposal to relocate women-only train carriages to improve passenger safety.

The controversy followed a fatal train collision near Jakarta on April 28, 2026, which resulted in the deaths of 16 women who were traveling in an all-female carriage.

Proposal for Carriage Relocation

On April 28, 2026, after visiting victims of the collision, Minister Fauzi suggested that women-only carriages be moved from the ends of trains to the middle. According to reports from CNA, the minister proposed this arrangement so men would be at the ends of the trains.

The suggestion was intended as a safety measure following the tragedy at Bekasi station, where the collision claimed the lives of 16 women.

Public Backlash and Apology

The proposal drew significant criticism on social media, with critics arguing that the suggestion implied the lives of male passengers were less valuable or more disposable than those of women.

On April 29, 2026, Minister Fauzi released a video on her personal Instagram account and the official ministry page to address the public response. In the video, she described her previous remarks as inappropriate.

I sincerely apologise to the public, especially to the victims and their families who felt hurt or uncomfortable because of the statement.

Arifah Choiri Fauzi

Fauzi further stated that she had no intention of disregarding the safety of other passengers when making the suggestion.

The online reaction included comments from users emphasizing the equal value of all human lives. One Instagram user, @wscofficial25, responded to the minister’s post by stating that men are also fathers, sons, and husbands with families who depend on them.

Every human life has equal value – men and women alike. Men are also fathers, sons and husbands with families who love and depend on them. As a public official, you should promote safety solutions that protect ALL passengers, not suggest that one gender is more disposable than the other.

@wscofficial25