Minister apologises after plans to move women-only carriages sparks backlash

An Indonesian minister has apologised, after her proposal to move female-only carriages from the end to the middle of trains sparked public backlash.



Minister for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Arifah Choiri Fauzi’s remarks came in the wake of a train collision near Jakarta that killed 16 women in an all-female carriage.



In a video posted on her personal Instagram account and the ministry’s page , Arifah said that her earlier remarks were “inappropriate”.



“I sincerely apologise to the public, especially to the victims and their families who felt hurt or uncomfortable because of the statement,” she said.



“I had no intention of disregarding the safety of other passengers.”



On Tuesday, after visiting victims of the train collision, Arifah had suggested placing women-only carriages in the middle of trains, “so men would be at the ends”, local media reported.



Arifah’s suggestion drew criticism online, with some saying that she had implied that men’s lives were less valuable.