Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, has issued a public apology following her controversial suggestion to relocate women-only train carriages from the ends of the train to the middle.
The proposal was initially made during the Minister’s visit to victims of a collision between a KRL commuter train and the Argo Bromo Anggrek train at the Bekasi Regional General Hospital (RSUD) on Tuesday, April 28. Minister Arifah had suggested the change after noting that the carriages typically reserved for women appeared to be the most severely impacted during the accident.
Addressing the backlash, Minister Arifah took to her official Instagram account, @arifah.fauzi, on Wednesday, April 29, to retract her statement. “Regarding my statement following the train accident in East Bekasi, I realize that it was inappropriate,” she stated in a video message. “I offer my deepest apologies to the public, particularly to the victims and their families who felt hurt or uncomfortable by my remarks.”
The Minister clarified that her intention was never to diminish the safety of other passengers. “I understand that in a situation of grief like this, the primary focus must be on the handling of the victims and providing empathy to all affected families,” she explained. “We all agree that the safety of everyone—men and women alike—is the number one priority.”
Minister Arifah emphasized that the government’s current focus remains entirely on supporting those affected by the tragedy. “The government’s current priority is to ensure the best possible care for all victims, both those who passed away and those who sustained injuries,” she affirmed. “Following the President’s directives, the entire process is being handled quickly, fairly, and comprehensively. The Ministry of PPPA is committed to ensuring that the rights of the victims and the children left behind are not overlooked.”
In addition to her apology, the Minister reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to assisting survivors, pledging psychological support and protection for children and families traumatized by the event. “Let us focus our collective attention on supporting the victims, offering prayers, and working to improve public transport safety systems so that such a tragedy does not happen again. Passenger safety must remain the highest priority in every future transportation policy,” she concluded.
Prior to her apology, Minister Arifah had suggested that the positioning of women’s carriages at the front and back of trains required re-evaluation. During her visit to the hospital on Tuesday, she stated, “We were discussing with KAI why they are placed at the very front and back—initially to avoid overcrowding—but given this event, we suggest that women’s carriages could be placed in the middle, with male passengers in the front and back carriages instead.”
Summary
Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, has issued a formal apology after suggesting that women-only commuter train carriages should be relocated to the middle of trains. The proposal followed her observation that the end carriages were severely damaged during a recent collision between a KRL commuter train and the Argo Bromo Anggrek train. She subsequently retracted the statement on social media, acknowledging that her remarks were inappropriate during a time of public grief.
The Minister clarified that her priority remains the safety of all passengers and the comprehensive support of the accident victims and their families. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing psychological assistance and ensuring that the rights of those affected, particularly children, are protected. Moving forward, the Ministry aims to focus on collective recovery and the improvement of public transportation safety systems to prevent future tragedies.