The Jakarta Provincial Government is preparing new regulations segregating women and men in angkot minivans, in light of a recent incident in which a female passenger was allegedly sexually harassed.
Jakarta Transportation Agency Head Syafrin Liputo said yesterday that men will occupy the seat on the right side of the angkot, while women will sit opposite and facing them under the planned regulations.
“Therefore there will be a physical separation [between women and men]. No more mixing together,” Syafrin told reporters at City Hall.
The new rules are expected to be enforced this week. Angkot minivan operators who don’t comply may face suspension.
On July 4, a video taken by a 21-year-old woman in an angkot circulated widely, in which she shamed a male passenger who was sitting next to her for allegedly fondling her breasts while using his jacket to conceal his hands.
The victim said nobody in the minivan came to her aid. She eventually reported the alleged perp to the South Jakarta Metro Police. The alleged perp, who has yet to receive any criminal charges, denied harassing the woman and claimed that he was only reaching for his phone in his jacket.
While gender segregation would be new for angkot minivans, other modes of public transportation in Jakarta have long provided women-only sections in their vehicles in a bid to counter sexual harassment.
Critics, however, have argued that segregating women on public transportation does more to normalize sexual harassment than protect them. True enough, sexual harassment on Jakarta public transportation continues to be a problem year in, year out.
