{
  "id": 15134404,
  "title": "We can’t ban foreigners from using buses, says Loke",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/we-cant-ban-foreigners-from-using-buses-says-loke",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T05:15:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/10/17/we-can-t-ban-foreigners-from-using-buses-says-loke"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook clarified at a press conference in George Town that the government cannot ban foreigners from using public buses, despite calls for Rapid KL to restrict foreign passengers due to alleged unruly behavior. Loke emphasized that the country is not one that excludes people and a blanket ban on foreigners boarding buses is impractical. He stated that Rapid KL's auxiliary police would investigate complaints of misconduct, and bus drivers could report incidents to the police. Loke also noted that bus drivers have the authority to report incidents to the police.\n\nResponding to social media claims that some foreign passengers on Rapid KL buses have made local passengers uncomfortable by changing their children's clothes on board and allegedly vandalized bus facilities, Loke's ministry is working with the Home Ministry to amend existing laws to impose heavier penalties on cable thieves. The amendments, which include increasing prison terms and penalties, are still in the policy discussion stage. In the meantime, rail operators are advised to enhance preventive measures, such as installing CCTV cameras at key locations and deploying more auxiliary police to deter cable thieves from entering restricted areas.",
  "summary": "The transport minister responds to netizens calling on Rapid KL to ban foreigners who engage in unruly behaviour.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Loke: We cannot stop foreigners from using public buses, but all passengers must comply with rules",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/loke-we-cannot-stop-foreigners-from-using-public-buses-but-all",
        "published": "2026-10-17T04:33:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "We can’t ban foreigners from using buses, says Loke",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/we-cant-ban-foreigners-from-using-buses-says-loke-15137276",
        "published": "2026-10-17T05:15:41.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}