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Sexual harassment in Malaysia

In Malaysia, sexual harassment, as defined by the Employment Act 1955, is “any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal, visual, gestural or physical, directed at a person which is offensive, humiliating or a threat to their well-being”.

Quotes

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2020

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  • A change of government may have caused a bump in the road but since the bill was already prepared and was merely at the point of being tabled, this was a bump that the government could have handled... Any questions on the bill and its draft could be referred to the stakeholder organisations that were involved and we would have been happy to support the government in this way... By not focusing on the bill in the past year, the government has also lost the chance to ensure that a proper allocation of resources is set aside during the 2021 budget, to ensure an effective implementation of the bill.
  • While I was attending the patient, he made a phone call to a woman and turned on the loudspeaker on his phone. During the conversation, I was drawing his blood and I heard the woman ask what he was doing to which he answered, 'I'm having sex with the staff nurse and if you don't believe me, you can make a video call.' I was worried because there were only two of us in the room.
    • A statement by an unnamed nurse, after she was allegedly sexually harassed by a 60-year-old Covid-19 patient that she was treating at the Intensive Care Unit ward. The nurse's police report has been making its rounds on social media "Elderly COVID-19 Patient In ICU Ward Allegedly Sexually Harassed A Nurse", as reported by Harian Metro and cited by SAYS.com (14 October 2020).
  • We have referred the case to the deputy public prosecutor (DPP) on 13 August and the DPP said there will be no charges against the suspect. This is on grounds that the suspect has already faced disciplinary action from UM that was triggered by the victim's complaints... The victim previously made a police report at UM and UM had conducted investigations and took action against the (associate) professor. He has been demoted and has retired in June, if I'm not mistaken.
    • Nik Ros Azhan Abdul Hamid, Kuala Lumpur CID chief, in reference to the police report made by a student of Universiti Malaya (UM). She lodged the police report on 15 July, claiming that the university had failed her by not taking effective action against the lecturer and refusing to divulge the findings of its internal investigations "Police Drop Case Against UM Lecturer Who Allegedly Sexually Harassed A Student", as reported by Malaysiakini and cited by SAYS.com (29 August 2020)
  • This bill is necessary as the existing law only regulates sexual harassment crimes that occur in the workplace when instead it should include public space as well.
    • Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Pandan MP, urging the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development to prioritise the bill because most sexual harassment victims did not have the proper channel to make a complaint. The remark was in response to the delay in tabling the bill as announced by Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun. "Sexual Harassment Bill to be tabled by year end, says minister", as reported by Malay Mail (22 July 2020)
  • In the beginning, I thought that was normal because it always happens... But after hearing the experience of other activists, I feel this was inappropriate and should be labelled as sexual harassment.

2019

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  • Were you a virgin, how did it feel, was his penis big, did it hurt...Sex is supposed to be great, sex is good, sex feels and everyone should have a lot of sex.
  • We think there are a lot more cases related to sexual harassment which have gone unreported... And, this is because some of victims may feel it is not worth it to go through all the trouble and in the end justice is not served.
  • I would like to suggest to the minister, if we could create a Sexual Harassment Act for men to deal with the acts, speech or dressing of women that could seduce men into committing incest, rape, molest and pornography, among other things.
  • A handful of frontliners at police stations still make insensitive remarks to victims... They pass comments that what they were wearing may have invited such a response from the men.
    • Nisha Sabanayagam, All Women’s Action Society (Awam) programme and operations manager. This was told to reporters at a fundraising event held by Kampung Tunku state assemblyperson Lim Yi Wei, "Some cops still mocking abuse victims, complains Awam" reported by Free Malaysia Today (25 July 2019)

2018

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  • How did this become viral when the report has been retracted? That bothers me as to which party made the issue public... I hope the media will not prolong it because that will damage the reputation of the girl who has a future ahead of her and must be protected.
  • There is some truth in that (case). We are taking action on that. I cannot say when but it would be immediate... So far, there have been reports, allegations and even 'surat layang' (poison-pen letter) on this. We are looking into the matter seriously.
    • Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun, Inspector-General of Police at Bukit Aman in response to allegations of sexual harassment against a district police chief in Sabah. Online portals reported that the police officer had allegedly sexually harassed six policemen and a Rela personnel. "IGP: Action to be taken against Sabah OCPD for sexual harassment" reported by The Star (20 August 2018)
  • NUJ suggests, in the view that sexual harassment is part of the challenges faced by female journalists, that they present themselves in an appropriate manner and be firm while on duty. For example, do not dress in an overtly sexy outfit, decline interviews at inappropriate places like night clubs or politicians' homes. Female journalists must have integrity and an appropriate manner to obtain news.
    • Mohd Taufek bin Razak, president of the National Union of Journalist (NUJ), in his response to Malaysiakini Q&A. The interview is in reference to an Asian Correspondent article on allegations of sexual harassment of female journalists in Malaysia by local politicians, including a minister, "100 Women: National Union of Journalists Malaysia sorry for 'sexy outfit' advice", reported by BBC World Service (18 January 2018).

2017

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  • If little things like covering the eyes, pinching the nose or hug I can still accept since it’s just a poster but if it is towards harassment or sexual, I feel that is too far... They may just be joking, but I feel ashamed because that is still myself although it is just an image.
    • Nor Shafila Khairusalleh, 25, who shot to fame as the woman who “shocked” many with her life-size cardboard cut-out advertisements in Shell petrol stations admitted that she was disturbed by men “molesting” her likeness, "Shell model disturbed her image ‘molested’ by men", reported by The Star (2 July 2017).
  • The abuse happened on a daily basis... I just wanted to work, but ended up being treated this way. There is no respect for women, for local staff. I want justice as my rights as a woman were violated both morally and emotionally.
    • Ain (a pseudonym), a Malaysian local staff for a Middle Eastern ambassador, who allegedly molested her, tried to pressure her to be a mistress and terminated her employment when she rebuffed him. This was said at a press conference organised by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) to highlight the plight of sexual harassment experienced by local staff in foreign embassies, where perpetrators could have diplomatic immunity, "He pressured me to be his mistress" reported by New Straits Times (9 June 2017).
  • It is the right of the employer to request potential flight attendants to expose their chests to interviewers.
    • Raja Sa’adi Raja Amrin, Malindo Air public relations and communications director, in response to complaints from interviewees who allegedly were required to ‘expose their chests, lift their skirts, fold up their pants or remove their pantyhose’ during the airline’s walk-in interview conducted on March 11th. "Removing top ‘normal procedure’, says airline" reported by Malay Mail (5 April 2017)

2015

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  • In these cases, some perpetrators are men. We do have cases of men being harassed by women, especially female bosses, although it is rare. In such cases, female bosses try to take advantage of their position over the men.
    • Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) executive director, referring to MEF occasionally receiving sexual harassment cases where the victims are men, "Need for better protection" reported by The Star (5 Jul 2015)
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