Malaysia where sexual abuse lurks everywhere - Johor PPV security personnel accused of making lewd 'cucuk' gesture

Johor PPV security personnel accused of making lewd 'cucuk' gesture

A security personnel on duty at a Covid-19 vaccination centre (PPV) in Johor Baru, yesterday, has been accused of making an obscene gesture and lewd joke at a woman who came for her vaccine appointment.

The woman, Jaw Keyun, said she walked through the Persada Johor International Convention Centre's entrance where a man wearing green fatigues requested to see her MySejahtera and MyKad, before he started flirting with her.

Jaw said the man, who spoke in Malay, had used the word "cucuk" (poke) to make a lewd remark with a sexual connotation.

In a Facebook post, Jaw said the man first pointed to his nose and asked, "pernah kena cucuk?" (have you been poked before?) referring to a swab test. Her reply to say no prompted him to continue, "nak saya cucuk awak ke?" (do you want me to poke you?) with a hand gesture that implied sexual intercourse.

The 32-year-old said she was left speechless and immediately walked away to laughter from a group wearing similar green fatigues, while another voice was heard saying she had nice hair.

"I know in Malay the word cucuk can be used in different sentences to express different meaning (sic).

"But I feel very bad with that joke," she told Malaysiakini.

Jaw, however, added she was late for her vaccine appointment at around 1pm yesterday and in the rush failed to identify the masked personnel's name tag or badge number.

After making it into the hall, Jaw said her vaccination process went smoothly with a high level of professionalism from all others involved including health officers and nurses.

While on the way home with her husband, Jaw said she had lodged a police report over the incident at Batu Pahat district police station to prevent more women from falling victim.

When contacted, Batu Pahat district police chief Ismail Dollah confirmed receiving the report, to be investigated by Johor Baru Selatan police where the alleged offence had taken place.

Johor Baru Selatan police chief Mohd Padzli Mohd Zain similarly told Malaysiakini that a request for an order to investigate has been submitted to the state prosecution and is pending approval.