Thank you, Susan Loone, for a refreshing angle on the contempt action by parliament against MP Fong Po Kuan ('No sisterhood when women MPs are at work', Dec 20).

The issue of sexual harassment in proceedings in parliament is a matter of concern in all legislatures. I believe every democracy has either legislated for this specifically or have set in place a code of conduct on sexual harassment.

Perhaps the women's groups working on the acceptance of the code of conduct on sexual harassment and the proposed law on sexual harassment should consider extending their campaign to parliament as a specific campaign.

I believe some of the ministers like Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (women and family development) and Fong Chan Ong (human resources) of Barisan Nasional are already familiar with these issues. It is a wonder that they may think that parliament should be exempt from these concerns.

Malaysia has international obligations under the Convention Against the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women which the government signed in 1995, to eradicate sexual harassment.

Malaysia failed to submit her report to the monitoring body of this convention, but that does not mean that groups should not begin monitoring the government's non-compliance. At least a draft report by groups should go to the Human Rights Commission.