The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
- Sack officer of "flash your panties" remark, says women's activist Norhayati Kaprawi
- No dressing down rape issue, say netizens
- Security at Sukma Sports Village present, but not round-the-clock vigilance
| Sack officer of "flash your panties" remark, says women's activist Norhayati Kaprawi Posted: PETALING JAYA: He should be sacked, a women's rights advocate said of the parliamentary officer who made the "flash your panties" remark. "Why do some men think that women have to exploit her sexuality in order to succeed. "Do men think that women can't succeed based on their intelligence, strength and merits. "Women can! I find that to be a very sexist remark!" Norhayati Kaprawi, who is also a documentary filmmaker, told The Star Online. Norhayati was referring to the statement Fuziah made during her debate in Parliament that the officer reportedly told a female MP that if she had shown her seluar dalam, she would have gotten the post of state executive councillor. The officer's remark drew the ire of many women rights activists who called it sexist.Norhayati also weighed in on the remark by PAS Muslimat chief Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff who urged the Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry to introduce a dress code to help prevent sexual harassment. Siti Zailah, who is PAS' Rantau Panjang MP, had told Parliament that short pants and short skirts contributed to sexual crimes. Norhayati said if such was the attitude of PAS, then Malaysians, especially Malaysian women, should be worried. "As in many countries that want to project their 'Islamic identities', one of the first things they impose is to regulate women's lives, on how they dress, and curb women's freedom of movement. "I thought these last few years PAS has also been talking about human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of expression and all? "Or is it just a political strategy, or do they mean that human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of speech are only for PAS people but not for others? Rather than blaming the women, PAS women should ask their party leaders to teach men to respect women, to teach them that no woman deserved to be harassed, molested or raped," said Norhayati. Wanita MCA Chairman Datuk Yu Chok Tow didn't mince her words in weighing in on the issue. "I find it hard to believe that a woman elected representative is blaming indecent attire for sexual assault and rape instead of condemning the perpetrators." "The suggestion that the government should enforce laws on dress etiquette for women in public places is not the proper solution. This suggestion is not only absurd, but it also displays PAS' conservative mentality towards women." "Wanita MCA urges all women MPs, including those from the opposition, to condemn this suggestion by PAS. Since DAP has been constantly defending PAS by telling the public that they have become more moderate, it is thus necessary for them to be seen speaking out against this regressive suggestion." "As a fellow woman, Siti Zailah has a greater obligation to speak up for women's rights instead of making excuses for sexual perpetrators by putting the blame on women." "By blaming a woman's attire as the reason for sexual harassment or rape, it shows that her mentality is remarkably similar to that of a male chauvinist," said Yu. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) executive director Ivy Josiah said WAO was aware of the myth about rape. "Unfortunately, the first response would be - How to change the behaviour of the women?" she said, pointing out that politicians should have a better understanding of sexual crimes. "These crimes are committed when the man has complete control over the women and they are unable to do anything to control that," she said, adding that rape occurs irrespective of the women's attire. "Let's not turn our attention to women. If man can't control himself when he sees a woman dressing indecently, then it's an insult to man," she added. |
| No dressing down rape issue, say netizens Posted: PETALING JAYA: Stop slut shaming and victim blaming, it is outrageous to suggest that a woman's dressing is to blame for the actions of perverts, said netizens. In Parliament on Wednesday, Rantau Panjang MP Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff suggested a female dress code to prevent indecent dressing in public. According to the PAS Muslimat (women's wing) chief, such a move would also curb rising levels of sex crimes and prevent sexual harassment. But most netizens were quick to disagree, with @cyfu dubbing the idea as "1920s thinking in 2013". Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching, weighed in: "The idea to use dress code to solve rape not only insults women, but insults men as well. #NoExcuseForRape" @sehseh blamed ignorance for the statement, as it "validates slut shaming and victim blaming". Child welfare activist Dr Hartini Zainuddin (@tiniz) voiced disbelief: "Dress code to prevent rape? What planet are we on?" @tiffanyoon pointed out that "some people get turned on by Kiki Lala (a children's clothing label)". Lawyer Michelle Yesudas (@chelle_yesudas) tweeted: "Sexual crimes/harassment comes from the way we perceive power relationships between sexes. if only a dress code can change it :)". @syazwanzainal tweeted that it is not about telling women how to dress, and that sex offenders should instead be told "not to rape". @mymiszelle pointed out a loophole: "Creating a #DressCode for women in Malaysia won't prevent sexual crimes & harassment. And will it be a crime if women don't adhere? Perpetrators can say: 'Oh, she wasn't in the #DressCode specified. Not my fault. Her's.' #loophole Back to blaming women." This was echoed by @cheantat, who added: "If #dresscode really formed, we should ban men from going out after sunset & full moon period. Equally stupid in my POV #NoExcuseForRape". @Guru_Nathan decried the suggestion as "nonsense" and tweeted: "Dressing is not the cause of rape. Stupidity and low moral is". Its logic was also questioned by @itsJa5on who tweeted: "The way a woman dresses is no justification for sexual crimes. You don't blame a wealthy person for getting robbed now do you?". @LumosNY rubbished the idea, and joked: "She needs to suggest allowance for us girls then so we can shop for the right clothes according to #dresscode". Like many others, @rebcvince was indignant: "Seriously? The problem is not what women wear, but it's men own mentality. There are psycho guys out there. Do something about that!" But some, like @nlsamr, supported the move: "Goes both ways. Dress code idea is excellent though". To @athirah136, a dress code is "crucial to help prevent rape cases", though the #NoExcuseForRape hashtag was also included in her tweet. |
| Security at Sukma Sports Village present, but not round-the-clock vigilance Posted: PETALING JAYA: Directors from various state sports council have acknowledged the presence of security personnel at the Sukma Sports Village in Universiti Putra Malaysia, but they did not expect round-the-clock vigilance. "You can't be expecting them to be on-guard for 24 hours. They are human beings too," said Selangor Sports Council director Shamsul Shahril. He claimed that security was tight at the Sports Village but security personnel have to flexible at times. Perak Sports Council deputy director Mazlan Mohamad agreed, saying we should not "expect a sports village to be a boarding school". Both said their respective state contingents have been trouble-free as they followed protocols set by the management.  Selangor Sports Council director Shamsul Shahril. Mazlan added that state sports officials met everyday during the games. "Our contingent meets every day to ensure the safety of athletes and also to do a post-mortem of our athletes' performances on that day. "Our officials know where they stay and when they go out," he said. Both were disappointed with the recent rape allegation as it had tarnished the country's sporting reputation. "I believe they took alcohol to release stress. They (the Federal Territory handball team) were knocked out at the group stage and this would have led them to consume alcohol," said Shamsul. Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had earlier accused Federal Territory handball team officials of joining players in their drinking session and both Mazlan and Shamsul condemned the behaviour, if true. "Officials are the mental trainers of the team, and they play a key role in maintaining the composure and attitude of athletes," said Shamsul. "It's a shame to see a coach partying around with his athletes at the sports village," added Mazlan. The Federal Territories sports council did not give any comment when contacted.  Kolej Kedua at the UPM campus, where the alleged rape took place. A 20-year-old female chaperone from the Federal Territory handball team was said to have been raped by three teenage athletes after having drinks with them in the dormitory at the village. The three athletes, Adib Adha Ismail, 18, Megat Farzeril Faiz Megat Razali and Mohammad Shaizzad Md Shafie, both 19, were arrested and have claimed trial to the charge of raping the female chaperone on Thursday. |
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