NEWS about sexual misconduct are usually hard to read, but those perpetrated by men of the cloth are more cringeworthy, so to speak.
The news in question is that of the deaf-mute South Korean pastor who was recently charged with two counts of molesting a 28-year-old man several years ago.
But then again, sexual misconduct by religious men is nothing new in Malaysia. Over the past few years, quite a number of similar sexual misconduct cases have made international headlines, and involve members of religious organisations in the country.
The biggest question here is, what are the authorities – religious or otherwise – doing to prevent this?
Is there a monitoring and prevention system that is in place to track these sexual offenders, especially those who often were never criminally charged and, in many cases, were removed or left one religious organisation to join another, or to live as private citizens?
More importantly, do religious organisations in Malaysia have a stringent screening process to vet those who join their groups to prevent any Tom, Dick and Harry from joining them – especially those with a history of sexual misconduct? What is most disturbing about the deaf-mute pastor charged with molestation is the fact that this is not a one-time offence.
He was previously charged with similar offences against other men in the past few years, and Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department has further revealed that several investigation papers were opened in Penang and Selangor over the acts allegedly committed by the suspect between 2011 and 2016!
It was also reported that his victims are poorly educated, naive boys, many of whom have severe hearing loss and that they were duped by the South Korean who told them that groping and kissing are a part of Korean culture.
It is, however, important to point out here that the man was only nabbed after the police received several reports involving disabled boys, some of whom are deaf and mute.
How many more of his victims are out there, who are too traumatised and ashamed to lodge a police report?
Proper action needs to be taken by the authorities to stop this nightmare; only then can there be justice for the victims. – June 17, 2021
