Press statement by Chong Eng on 6 Aug 2021
Chief of Women’s Wing under Pakatan Harapan
Chairperson of DAP Women’s Wing
Penang EXCO for Social Development & Non-Islamic Religious Affairs
Padang Lalang State Assemblyperson
DAP Women’s Wing supports schoolgirl Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam who is slapped with RM1 million defamation suit for speaking up against an inappropriate rape joke
I am deeply disappointed to know that Ain, who is bold to be a whistle blower in exposing an inappropriate rape joke in school, is now being sued by her teacher for defamation.
Since exposing the inappropriate rape joke, Ain has been subjected to rape threat and police investigations.
While the Ministry of Education claimed that action had been taken against the teacher by transferring the latter to the state education department, Ain seems to have landed herself into more trouble with the school authorities and even received a letter of demand for the alleged defamatory statement now.
Isn’t this the case of a whistle blower being punished for speaking up while the offender is spared from facing the music?
The society does not seem to support a schoolgirl who has the courage to speak up but condone a teacher for his inappropriate rape joke.
That is why many victims opt to suffer in silence and do not speak up, for fear of facing repercussions, and worse still, made a victim.
Such development would deter others in the same situation in school from speaking up.
Ain has the right to speak up and she has done the right thing.
But it looks like Ain, who is still a teenager, will have to pay a hefty price for speaking up.
Aren’t we supposed to make school a safe place for our children and discourage all forms of harassment and intimidation?
I urge the school and Ministry of Education to take a serious view on the matter and put a stop on such unhealthy trend of condoning teachers, even if they are found to have behaved in an inappropriate manner.
Sexist remarks or jokes are found in schools, workplace and even in parliament.
The Standing Orders of Parliament was also amended to deter members of parliament from uttering sexist remarks.
We should be supporting Ain for speaking up instead of punishing her.
It is time for us to make a stand against such sexist behaviour which has become a norm due to our inaction or passiveness.
Assuming such behaviour as normal, perpetrators continue with their act, with the perception that they have the authority to do so.
CHONG ENG
章瑛八月六日的文告
行动党全国妇女组主席
槟州社会发展及非伊斯兰事务委员会主席
槟州巴当拉浪区州议员
民主行动党妇女组支持女学生艾因， 不向百万毁谤赔偿低头。
得知在学校揭露老师不恰当强奸笑话的艾因现在被她的老师以诽谤罪起诉，我深感失望。
自从揭露体育老师不恰当的强奸笑话后，艾因一直受到强奸威胁和警方调查。
虽然教育部声称已对教师采取行动，将后者调职到州教育部门，但 艾因似乎给自己带来了更多麻烦，与学校当局纠缠，甚至现在收到了一封关于涉嫌诽谤，索赔百万的律师信.
这社会似乎不支持一个有勇气站出来揭露老师不恰当的行为的女生却宽恕行为不当的老师。
这就是为什么许多受害者选择沉默受苦而不挺身而出，因为害怕面临后果，更糟糕的是，成为受害者。
这社会现象会阻止其他处于相同情况的人举报。
艾因有权发言，她做了正确的事情。
但看起来还是个青少年的艾因，要为揭露不当而付出沉重的代价。
难道我们不应该让学校成为我们孩子的安全场所并阻止一切形式的骚扰和恐吓吗？
我希望学校和教育部认真对待这件事，制止这种纵容教师行为不当的不良风气。
学校、职场、甚至国会里头都能看到性别歧视言论或黄色笑话。
国会的议会常规被修改，以阻止议员发表性别歧视的言论。
我们应该支持艾因说出实情而不是惩罚她。
因为我们的·沉默和被动， 这种性别歧视行为已经成为一种平常事，是时候站出来提出抗议，杜绝类似言论及行为、
沉默让当事者认为这种行为是正常的，并认为他们有权这样做。
章瑛