Former newscaster Sheahnee Iman Lee shared a confrontation with a group of youths in a women-only carriage on a KTM train yesterday. (Instagram pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: An Australian woman who has lived in Malaysia for 50 years was subject to verbal abuse by a group of rowdy youths while travelling on a Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train from Klang to Kuala Lumpur on National Day.
The incident was highlighted in a social media post by her daughter.
The incident occurred in a women-only carriage, where the woman, a 72-year-old former schoolteacher, reminded a group of young men that they were not supposed to be there.
However, the youths responded aggressively, insisting that they were Malaysians and this was their country.
“(After that), they took videos of her and then got more of their rowdy friends to fill up the coach, much to the worry of my mum and the other few ladies there,” Sheahnee Iman Lee said in her Facebook post yesterday.
“Just because my mum’s skin colour doesn’t meet your standards, she has no right to speak up?
“Just because you’re Malaysian, you think you have the right to do whatever you wish?”
Sheahnee said her mother has devoted her life to teaching and developing local sports. She has also educated many of Malaysia’s royalty and politicians, and paid her taxes like everyone else.
“She chose to stay here most of her life, no matter how tough things were, and birthed two Malaysians,” the former newscaster said.
“My mother has witnessed the best and worst of Malaysia’s growth. After 67 years, I hope more of us can start to see beyond colour and focus more on our values, attitudes, mindsets and hearts,” she added.
Lee said KTM reached out to her today at 1pm to take her report on the incident.
“They were empathetic, listened openly and were receptive to my feedback,” she said in an update, adding that KTM also informed her about the presence of intercom buttons on all trains, which passengers can use to request help in case of emergencies.
However, Sheahnee said reaching the intercom in such situations can be difficult when outnumbered by a large group of males.
She suggested that KTM conduct random and regular spot checks to ensure that there is no encroachment by men into women-only coaches and safety of passengers is ensured.
In case of emergencies, the public can use the KTM intercom or call 03-2263-1194.
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