{
  "id": 15123739,
  "title": "Loke: Rapid KL cannot turn away foreigners, but disruptive passengers can face action",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/loke-rapid-kl-cannot-turn-away-foreigners-but-disruptive-passengers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T04:55:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1557395/loke-rapid-kl-cannot-turn-away-foreigners-disruptive-passengers-can"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "GEORGE TOWN: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has dismissed suggestions to exclude foreigners from using Rapid KL buses. Loke clarified that enforcement action can be taken against passengers who act inappropriately, with auxiliary police and bus drivers handling such situations. The minister emphasized that Singapore is not an isolated country and thus cannot prohibit foreigners from using public transport. Loke addressed concerns from Rapid KL commuters regarding misconduct by some foreign passengers, such as misuse of facilities, trespassing, and behavior that made others uncomfortable. This issue has gained attention on social media, following a post alleging that a foreign child urinated on the ground before boarding a Rapid KL bus, leading to other passengers asking the driver to ask the pair to leave. Some commuters have advocated for drivers to have the power to refuse boarding or ask unruly passengers, including children, to disembark. Loke affirmed that individual misconduct can be dealt with through enforcement action and that the police can be involved when necessary.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: Transport Minister Anthony Loke has rejected calls to ban foreigners from Rapid KL buses, saying passengers who cause disturbances or behave indecently can face enforcement action.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Penang rolls out first 15 electric buses, full fleet by March 2027",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/penang-rolls-out-first-15-electric-buses-full-fleet-by-march-2027",
        "published": "2026-10-17T03:49:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Loke: Rapid Penang starts electric bus services with 15 vehicles, targets 75 by March 2027",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/loke-rapid-penang-starts-electric-bus-services-with-15-vehicles",
        "published": "2026-10-17T03:56:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Penang kicks off electric bus service",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/penang-kicks-off-electric-bus-service",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:42:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malaysiakini",
        "title": "Loke: Impossible to ban foreigners from Rapid KL buses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/loke-impossible-to-ban-foreigners-from-rapid-kl-buses",
        "published": "2026-10-17T06:28:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}