Malaysian commuters, netizens up in arms over vandalised MRT stations

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian commuters and netizens have lashed out at vandals who defaced the newly operational Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations.

Commuter Ahmad Addin Abdul Aziz, when met at Bukit Bintang MRT station yesterday, said such actions (vandalism) demonstrated a lack of respect for public facilities.

“The fact that vandalism happens is unfathomable and unacceptable. You definitely would not trash your home and make it dirty, so why should you do it to public facilities.

“I am sure that MRT has installed sufficient CCTVs (closed-circuit television) cameras, but some irresponsible individuals will continue to vandalise,” the 20-year-old student said, adding MRT should find the culprits and punish them for their actions.

Student Nusyafiqah Mat Arif, 20, said it was everyone’s responsibility to take care of public facilities.

“Don’t walk away but immediately tell the culprit off,” she said when met at the Bukit Bintang MRT station.

Some passengers took to posting pictures on social media on the irresponsible behaviour of other passengers that they encountered while travelling.

A passenger uploaded pictures of thoughtless passengers who allowed their children to misbehave in the new trains.

“Some of the children were seen standing on the chair, playing with the handrails.

“The sad part was that the parents could not care less about their children’s behaviour and reprimand them,” he said.

The passenger took a picture of a fellow traveller who turned a handrail into a baby rocker by tying the spring around it.

“These sort of behaviour among passengers is unacceptable,” he said.

MRT Corp strategic communications and stakeholder director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah on Sunday had expressed his disappointment in a Facebook post regarding vandalism in some of the stations.

“Just after five days of operation, scratches could be seen on benches and walls. A toilet for the disabled was broken two days ago.

“Just now, I saw a broomstick and a spotlight on the rooftop of Exit F at the Bukit Bintang MRT station.

“I am sure those two things did not walk up the roof by themselves,” he said.

Not only that, he was told that children were climbing on the Rukun Negara wall at Merdeka station while parents made no move to stop them.

“Tiada kesopanan langsung (no manners at all),” he added in the post.

He said MRT had provided the public with a first-class facility but if society was still not ready with a first-class mentality to embrace it, a lot of money would be wasted on unnecessary repair work.

Another said such acts were shameful and sad.

Checks by the New Straits Times yesterday showed that MRT had taken swift action.

The broomstick and a spotlight were no longer on the rooftop of Exit F at the Bukit Bintang station.

It is learnt that they were removed a few hours after Najmuddin’s post.

Cleaners were seen at certain spots, making sure that the stations were kept clean.

Najmuddin yesterday said MRT Corp condemned the act of vandalism that had been taking place at several MRT stations.

“These facilities have been provided by the government for the benefit of the people, at a total cost that goes by the billions.

“With all this damage, more money is needed for the repair works. All this would be forked out by the people.

“This unnecessary expenditure could have been channelled for better use,” he said.

He said those caught vandalising would be charged under the Local Government Act 9 by-laws Vandalism 1991 and would be fined a maximum RM2,000 (S$636) or imprisoned for not more than a year, if convicted.

He said they also could be charged under the Local Public Transport Commision Act 2010.

On July 17, Prime Minister Najib Razak launched the second phase of the SBK Line from Muzium Negara to Kajang.

With the launch, 19 stations commenced operations, completing the entire 31 stations of the 51km SBK Line.

The first phase between Sungai Buloh and Semantan was launched by Najib on Dec 15 last year. NEW STRAITS TIMES