KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 — A Barisan Nasional federal lawmaker today urged the government to enact a law that allows the authorities to punish public transportation vandals and other irresponsible users.

While debating the Land Public Transport amendment Bill, Kuala Selangor Umno MP Datuk Imorhizam Ibrahim said the government must be strict in ensuring public transport facilities are well-maintained.

His call followed public uproar over news reports highlighting vandalism of some Mass Rapid Transit stations just five days after they opened to the public.

"I have to ask, are Malaysians actually ready for a first-world and a highly advanced public transportation?

"We have spent so much but when the facilities are vandalised we will have to bear a high cost to maintain them.

"Therefore there is a need for a law to punish irresponsible users,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.

On Sunday a Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp) officer complained of vandalism and damages at a few stations five days after the second phase of the Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line was launched.

MRT Corp strategic communications and stakeholder relations director Datuk Najmuddin Abdullah said he found a broken toilet two days ago and scratches on benches and walls.

"Just now I saw a broom stick (penyapu!!!) and a spotlight on rooftop of Exit F at Bukit Bintang station. I’m sure those 2 dead things didn’t walk up the roof by themselves,” Najmuddin posted on Facebook.

Shortly after, two commuters complained of irresponsible parents who allowed their children to play and stand on the MRT train seats while another woman used a handrail to hang a baby cradle.

The reports have infuriated the public.

More recently, the toilets at the Bukit Bintang and Sungai Buloh MRT stations were reported to have been badly vandalised.

Speaking to Malay Mail Online outside the Dewan Rakyat, Imorhizam said there is no option but to enact the law so the authorities can crack down hard on vandals.

"It has been 150 hours since operation began and already we see so much vandalism.

"We definitely need strict regulation to ensure that the public are (inculcated with) the mentality to take care of public facilities like they would with their own property,” he said.