Letter to editor
DESPITE Malaysia being a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the path towards gender equality in Malaysia appears to be fraught with challenges.
On March 9, civil organisations in our country organised a women’s march aimed at raising awareness about women’s rights among the public.
However, after the march, the police initiated an investigation under the Minor Offenses Act and the Peaceful Assembly Act, citing slogans that allegedly touched on sensitive content. However, the police did not further clarify what constituted sensitive content.
Is the mere existence of women deemed sensitive? In societal stereotypes, women are often portrayed as inherently sensitive and suspicious.
When women resist patriarchal constraints, strive for gender equality and justice, and speak up for marginalised groups, they are still expected to cater to the sensitivities of those in power and use compliant language, lest they be accused of touching on “sensitive” issue.
Internationally, women still face significant obstacles in their pursuit of women’s rights. For instance, a women’s organisation in Chongqing, China launched a special project called “WOMEN We Speak” on International Women’s Day to de-stigmatise terms related to women such as “socialite,” “miss” and “saint.”
However, this project was withdrawn due to allegedly touching on “sensitive” words with vague explanations regarding the reasons for its removal. Does this mean that whenever women attempt to make a statement – whether for themselves or for others – they are labelled as “sensitive”?
On the day of the march, members of the University Malaya (UM) Feminism Club as participants experienced the efforts of Malaysian women and the community supporting gender equality striving for their respective demands and for a more just Malaysian society.
However, it is disheartening that the police seem unable to recognise the participants’ efforts and the purpose of the march for a better Malaysia. Instead, they hastily dismiss it with the phrase “touching on sensitive issues.”
If law enforcement officials are genuinely concerned about women’s rights, shouldn’t they focus on improving the enforcement efficiency against gender-based violence instead of scrutinising slogans during a march?
Therefore, the UM Feminism Club demands that the police and relevant authorities further explain the reasons for investigating the women’s march rather than relying on vague accusations such as “alleged use of sensitive vocabulary” to interfere with women’s and marginalized groups’ exercise of their civil rights.
In addition, the UM Feminism Club also calls on the public to pay more attention to women’s issues and collectively promote gender equality to create a more just society. – March 11, 2024
University Malaya (UM) Feminism Club
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Image credit: Parti Sosialis Malaysia Facebook
