The All Women's Society (Awam) today announced that a signature campaign has been launched to call on the authorities to step up efforts in preventing and combating violence perpetrated against women.

In a press statement, Awam coordinator Maria Abdullah urged the authorities to take effective and comprehensive measures to enforce law and order.

She said the authorities should also conduct public education programmes, enact and enforce security measures to ensure the safety of people, especially women, in public spaces.

"Awam strongly holds that it is the duty and responsibility of the government including the police to maintain law and order for our community and society and to provide and ensure public places like streets, parks, shopping malls and car parks, are safe spaces for all," she added.

The signature campaign is part of Awam's crusade against rape and violence towards women. They will be launching the Citizens Against Rape (CAR) campaign on Aug 3 at the KDU college in Petaling Jaya.

Lawsuit fied

Concern for public safety, especially women came to the fore following the rape and murder of 28-year-old IT analyst Canny Ong on June 13.

The victim, who resided in the United States, had returned to Malaysia to visit her ailing father. She was abducted at the Bangsar Shopping Complex car park after having dinner with family and friends.

Her charred and mutilated remains were found four days later. The police have charged a 27-year-old cleaning company supervisor for the crime.

Yesterday, the victim's father Ong Bee Jeng filed a lawsuit against the operator of the Bangsar Shopping Complex car park.

He is seeking damages for negligence on the part of BR Property Holdings Sdn. Bhd.