MP cites goat and grandma to decouple attire-sexual harassment link

MP cites goat and grandma to decouple attire-sexual harassment link


Victims of sex crimes included a 74-year-old grandmother, a five-year-old child and a goat, noted Fuziah Salleh (Harapan-Kuantan).

“.... the goat died. Are we saying they were dressed sexily?

“For me, these are irrational arguments and do not reflect our ability to protect the people," she told the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.

Fuziah (above) said there are those, including elected representatives, who make judgmental comments based on the victim’s attire with regard to sexual harassment complaints.

She pointed out that MPs debating the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill 2021 had also made such remarks, citing the commandment for Muslims to cover their “aurat” as a form of protection.

"Yesterday, there was an MP who talked about 'inviting acts', as if justifying acts of sexual harassment.

"This is a judgemental remark that does not help to create an enabling environment," she stressed.

In his debate yesterday, Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PAS-Kuala Krai) asked, among others, if wearing revealing clothes could be considered a form of sexual harassment.

He said Muslims are required to cover themselves according to the rules, referring to this as a form of protection against sexual harassment.

Apart from listing various reported sexual harassment and rape cases, Fuziah also mentioned a 2018 exhibition in Brussels titled “Am I At Fault?” which featured the clothes worn by rape victims of all ages.

According to one news report, the clothes ranged from track pants to full-sleeved shirts. There was also a “My Little Pony” t-shirt which belonged to a child.

“The clothes will make you think hard about victim-shaming,” it read.

On drafting of the Bill, Fuziah credited women's rights groups that came together as the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality whose advocacy work on the law had dated back to 1995.