A Universiti Malaya student lodged a police report detailing alleged sexual harassment perpetrated by an associate lecturer at the University. She lodged the report following a failure of the higher education institution to properly investigate and find recourse for her claims.
The third year student said she decided to make the report at the Pantai police station on Wednesday, July 15, citing the integrity unit of the university failure to adequately process and notify her on the progress of her case. The university-linked unit did not even disclose the punishment, if any, imposed on the alleged offender.
“I feel the explanation given failed to reflect the justice it deserves… The lack of attentiveness and transparency not only halted the pursuit of justice, but also affected my mental well-being,”
“I am truly disappointed and despaired by the negligence and inefficiency shown by the Integrity Unit of Universiti Malaya.” she told the press outside the police station.
The victim recounts the sexual harassment perpetrated by the senior lecturer happen in his offfice on June 3 last year.
“He hugged me and asked me questions that invaded my privacy,” she said, adding there were other instances of inappropriate physical contact during the encounter.
She said she filed a formal complaint with the university’s integrity unit on July 1 last year.
“I did not receive any reply from the unit and on July 11, 2019, I went to the office to enquire about it. They told me they received the email but did not take any relevant action,” she said.
University Malaya Student Union (AMSU) president Muhammad Haziq Azfar Ishak was with the victim, said that AMSU found that justice for the victim had not been restored.
He said that AMSU was told that the investigation had concluded and the verdict was delivered the month before, coincidentally the same month the lecturer retired.
“We were told it was confidential and could not be disclosed,” said Muhammad Haziq.
“The union was informed that the unit required the victim to provide an additional letter to receive more information regarding the progress of the case.
“The union is of opinion that the mechanism does not reflect transparency and the unit should review its current procedure,” he said.
He urged the UM administration to initiate more radical preventive measures to ensure a safe place for students on campus.
I wish I could say reports like this are a rarity in a country otherwise dedicated to justice and equality for all but I would be telling a bald-face lie.
On October 18, 2018, another private university lecturer is alleged to have sent out inappropriate messages with sexual connotations across social media.
“You are getting sexier”, “nice a**”, “wear shorter dress” and “No panty today? Can see that clearly” were among the things allegedly said by the lecturer.
As recourse for the crime goes, the only definition of sexual harassment under Malaysian laws can be found in our Employment Act. It defines sexual harassment as
‘any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, whether verbal, non-verbal, visual, gestural or physical, directed at a person which is offensive or humiliating or is a threat to his well-being, arising out of and in the course of his employment.’
The Act applies only to conduct in the workplace.
In the Penal Code, the four main sections that govern the crime of sexual harassment are ss.354, 355, 375 and 509. S.509 provides for word or gesture intended to insult the modesty of another person.
Courts will apply S.509 when dealing with cases of sexual harassment. However, the Penal Code law on sexual harassment has been labelled inadequate as it deals with the more overt forms of sexual assault and violence.
The widespread silencing of victims in Malaysia is very well documented. The rights group All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) has stated in a press statement on July 3 that several female sexual harassment victims were laughed at by the police officers when attempting to file a report. The police officers also failed to take action as they claimed it had no criminal elements.
All hope is not lost however. For years, numerous activists and NGOs have been looking for solutions to the prevailing issue of sexual harassment. The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) has been spearheading campaigns for a standalone sexual harassment law in Malaysia since the late 1900s.
Frustratingly, it has been almost nine years since the proposed Sexual Harassment Bill was received, with the Bill still yet to be tabled in Parliament.
Protection of women and men from all types of sexual abuses from should be a bipartisan movement. Recently, men from both sides of the political spectrum, liberal and conservative, have been exposed for their predatory behavior towards women. It is therefore in everyone’s interests for an all encompassing Sexual Harassment Act to be passed. Let’s make it happen yall.
