Make Public Transport Stations Safer

The theft of two tyres from a vehicle at an LRT Park N’ Ride facility may appear minor beside other crimes, but it can weaken public confidence in public transport, the article says.

Malaysia’s property-crime figures show why the concern cannot be dismissed. Department of Statistics data recorded 58,255 index crime cases in 2024. Property crimes accounted for 47,188 of them, up 12.4 percent from the previous year, including 14,198 vehicle thefts.

Detailed public statistics on vehicle break-ins, motorcycle thefts, tyre theft and vandalism at MRT, LRT and KTM Park N’ Ride facilities are not available comprehensively. That gap matters as rail use continues to rise. Transport Ministry figures show about 336.7 million rail passengers in 2024, an increase of 23.8 percent from 2023. The Kelana Jaya LRT line carried 84.7 million passengers, while the Kajang MRT line carried 84.5 million.

Safety therefore needs to cover the entire environment, not just the presence of CCTV cameras. Operators need to ensure cameras work, recordings are monitored, dark areas are identified and help can arrive quickly. Security patrols should focus on higher-risk times and locations rather than follow routine schedules alone. Lighting is also important, especially in parking areas that are dark, screened from view or filled with blind spots.

Operators should provide an easily identifiable channel for reporting security incidents and publish regular Park N’ Ride statistics. Basic information on the number and type of incidents, their locations and subsequent improvements would help operators identify problem areas and allow the public to judge whether conditions are improving.