KUALA LUMPUR: A report by the New Straits Times on rail operator RapidKL’s novel method of impressing the importance of good train-riding etiquette upon commuters has gained worldwide attention since its publication on Aug 1.
RapidKL had resorted to deploying Annabelle, a doll made famous through urban myth and Hollywood films as a “cursed, demonic doll” to remind commuters – in an unforgettable way – to comport themselves while on trains.
RapidKL’s Facebook page featured eerie snapshots of Annabelle at deserted MRT entrances and riding empty trains by herself with the message: “Mind your manners while you are on our trains or… she will haunt you FOREVER.”
The NST article on the gimmick has garnered 36,000 views as of Aug 4 – not to mention the interest of the world’s major news media, including The Mirror, The New York Post and Russia Today.
In its report, The Mirror said “Train operator baffles its customers by randomly leaving creepy doll on seats,” and elaborated on how RapidKL has gone to creepy lengths to make its commuters behave.
In its report headlined “Ghoulish doll deployed in train station to terrify unruly commuters’, Russia Today wrote that the train company is intimidating misbehaving commuters with a creepy doll that will “keep an eye on them”.
When contacted today, Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd said Annabelle had been used to remind commuters to be courteous and considerate, after the company received many candid photos of commuters misbehaving on trains.
“We have no intention of scaring the commuters. (We) just (want) to generate civic awareness among them while travelling on the LRT and the MRT, as well as when they use public facilities (in the stations).
“We will keep (running our) awareness campaign so that passengers will be more aware… (on the) dos and don’ts while using our trains,” he said.
Meanwhile on the claims of a ‘hantu pocong’ “wrapped ghost” sighting at the Cheras LRT station, the spokesperson said: “On behalf of Rapid Rail, we would like to clarify that there is no ‘lembaga putih’ (white figure) at our LRT station.
“We hope the public will not be influenced by such rumours,” he added.