LETTER | The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) is concerned about the developments reported in The Star, 'Sex predator doctor 'urges' hospital staff to sign letter of support' on Aug 1, whereby the senior doctor reported to have sexually abused female house officers, has pressured medical officers and specialists under him to sign a letter vouching for his performance as the department head.

Compounding this, a top Health Ministry official has asked for the disclosure of the police report made against the orthopaedics head of department for alleged sexual harassment, stating the report could not be found.

Sexual harassment cases reflect an abuse of power. We urge the ministry to put the interest of the victims/survivors at the centre of the process, and within a critical analysis of power relations and abuse of authority.

We need to break the culture of silence that allows sexual harassment and abuse to occur so blatantly within employment, and wider society.

This culture allowed the sexual harassment at the hospital to go unchallenged for years, as reported.

We welcome the government’s statement that an independent inquiry body would be set up to look into the case of the (alleged) sexual harassment and bullying of female house officers by the orthopaedics department head of the Klang Valley hospital.

We strongly recommend that this inquiry body is set up as soon as possible, and that the government takes the necessary action.

We stand in solidarity with all the women who have come forward from within the Ministry of Health, and as a default, believe women who report their experiences of bullying, sexual harassment and assault. This includes cases reported in the media, and those who have not spoken openly about it.

We commend the bravery of the young individuals from the medical profession who have spoken up thus far, despite knowing that those who report abuse potentially face backlash and intimidation from their abusers and their enablers within the medical hierarchy and the community.

Issued by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG):

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
Perak Women for Women (PWW)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
Women’s Center for Change Penang (WCC)
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (SAWO)
Tenaganita
Sisters in Islam (SIS)
Justice for Sisters (JFS)

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) is a coalition of 13 women’s rights organisations in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.