A packed MRT ride after work sparks debate as passengers clash over etiquette, empathy and handling inconsiderate behaviour
BEING crammed into a packed train after work is stressful enough — but what happens when someone makes it even worse?
In a Threads post, user @irdahaneeafrina_ shared her frustration over an irritating incident on the MRT Kajang line. She described a woman leaning against a pole, blocking other passengers from holding it for support.
“On top of that, the MRT Kajang line is already packed, and then you get people like this. When others are clearly trying to hold on, she just pretends not to notice,” she wrote.
The post quickly drew reactions from users who had experienced similar situations. One user admitted she could not tolerate such behaviour and chose to pinch the person instead of confronting her.
“And when she turned around, I looked her straight in the eye. After that, she didn’t lean back anymore,” she said.
Another user agreed, commenting that pinching was better than speaking up, even if it sounded rude.
“If you confront them, it just turns into an argument, doesn’t it? We’re already exhausted after work,” she added.
Echoing the sentiment, @intfthh_ commented, “Finally, someone has spoken about this,” accompanied by a crying emoji, reflecting how draining such encounters can be.
However, not everyone agreed with the criticism. Ariana Aqis urged commuters to consider another perspective before jumping to conclusions. She shared her own experience of enduring long daily journeys from Bangi to Banting after classes, which could take up to three hours due to multiple public transport changes.
“When I got on the train, it was packed as well. Sometimes I’d feel so dizzy I had no choice but to lean against anything I could,” she explained.
Ariana added that when she felt unwell, she often hoped someone in the crowd would offer her a seat — something that was difficult in an overcrowded train.
