Women-only parking zones were introduced in Malaysia to combat the rise in snatch thefts and assaults within shopping centres, where women were frequent targets. Although official statistics on gender-based victimization at malls are limited, anecdotal evidence shows that women constitute the majority of snatch theft victims in these spaces.

One particularly shocking event in June 2003 highlighted the urgency of enhancing women’s safety: Canny Ong, a 29-year-old Malaysian woman, was abducted from the basement parking lot of a Kuala Lumpur shopping mall. She was later found brutally assaulted, raped, and murdered. Ong had returned to Malaysia to care for her ailing father, but her tragic fate made headlines nationwide. Her body was discovered in a culvert along the New Pantai Expressway, weighted down with cement-filled tires and burned. Due to the condition of her remains, identification required DNA testing.

This incident prompted shopping malls across Malaysia to introduce women-only parking spaces closer to entrances, and some went further, securing these areas with gates and assigning guards to ensure that only lone female drivers gain access. These designated spaces, often marked in pink, serve a critical purpose, far beyond aesthetics.

However, the misuse of these spaces by non-female drivers has become an unfortunate reality. Such selfish behaviour leaves genuine users, particularly women arriving alone, with fewer options, forcing them to park farther from secure areas.

It's important to remember that these dedicated parking zones are in place for safety, not as a mere convenience. They serve as a small yet essential measure to help protect women, acknowledging the risks they face.

Today, we live in a world where incidents of assault, both by strangers and even those within families or communities, persist. Women have understandable fears about their safety, evident in behaviours such as locking car doors at the sight of strangers or holding keys defensively in elevators.

For women, vigilance is crucial. It’s not enough to carry pepper spray or to have watched self-defence tutorials if one isn't also mentally aware of the surroundings. Female-only parking spaces provide proximity, but not a guarantee of safety. Awareness can often be a woman’s best first line of defence. Simple precautions like making eye contact with those nearby, reducing distractions from mobile phones, and appearing alert can make a potential attacker reconsider.

These steps aren’t fool proof, but they cultivate an essential habit of vigilance. With time, this alertness becomes second nature, a small but worthwhile effort compared to the alternative risks.

In a world where safety is not guaranteed, staying vigilant is a necessary commitment. For now, these parking spaces are one of many steps in the right direction for public safety.

Image Credit / Source : Vocal Media, The Star