French television host Philippe Gougler noticed a pink “Women Only” sticker before asking a passenger whether the Rapid KL carriage was exclusively reserved for women.
A CLIP from a French travel documentary has gone viral on social media after its host appeared genuinely surprised to discover Malaysia’s women-only train coaches.
Posted on France TV’s Instagram account, French television host Philippe Gougler noticed a pink “Women Only” sticker before asking a passenger whether the carriage was exclusively reserved for women.
The male commuter explained that the carriage was strictly reserved for female passengers. When Gougler asked what would happen if a man attempted to walk through the coach to reach another carriage, the commuter jokingly advised him not to linger.
Curious, the host then asked what would happen if he ignored the advice.
“You might see a group of women trying to push you out of the train!” the commuter laughed. “But in the worst-case scenario, you could be reported. They could pull the alarm, report you to an officer on the platform, and the officer would ask you to leave.”
Gougler then asked whether the designated coach had been introduced because of harassment.
“Women here deserve to be respected. They don’t like being too close to men in crowded public spaces.
“Generally, unless it’s a family member, men aren’t supposed to get too close. It’s more of a cultural practice than simply an issue of harassment,” the commuter replied.
The video prompted many Malaysian netizens to share their own experiences, saying the dedicated coaches make daily commutes more comfortable, particularly during peak hours.
Instagram user @ctz.my wrote: “It’s really comfortable travelling in the women-only coach, especially during peak hours when the trains are packed.”
Another user, @hrlivelife, said the dedicated coaches provide women with greater comfort and peace of mind during crowded journeys.
“The women-only coach offers a more comfortable ride. I feel safer,” the user commented, adding that although a Western vlogger had criticised the concept as discriminatory, they believed the arrangement helped women avoid having their personal space invaded by men during rush-hour commutes.
