A joint committee against enforced room sharing for women tour guides expressed its displeasure today over the leaking of the Tourism Ministry's findings from an inquiry into the issue.

The Joint Committee on No Room Sharing for Women Tourist Guides, Women Tour Leaders and Women Bus Drivers raised concerns over the release of details of the inquiry by a local Chinese daily on June 2, just hours after the inquiry concluded.

The committee said the ministry had informed it that the inquiry findings would first be sent to the ministry's legal division, and it would take up to seven days before an outcome is made public.

"It is quite clear that due process was not followed in this case. We would like to stress the importance of keeping inquiry findings confidential until the entire process of the inquiry has been finalised, otherwise it may deter others from reporting future incidents of room-sharing," the committee said in a statement.

The Tourism Ministry announced last month that it would hold a meeting with stakeholders, including hotel operators, tour companies and guides, on June 1 to explain licence regulations and to emphasise on enforcement.

By-law prohibits forced room-sharing

The government had on June 1, 2009, introduced a by-law prohibiting tour companies from forcing female tour guides to share their rooms with male colleagues.

Should a tour operator be found guilty of violating the by-law, it may end up having its licence revoked.

The joint committee welcomed Tourism Minsiter Dr Ng Yen Yen's willingness to have a dialogue on the issue, stressing that there were various reasons why women tour guides did not come forward to report such incidents.

NONE "These reasons may include fear of loss of income from no job assignments, feelings of shame, lack of awareness of an available recourse from the Ministry of Tourism and other agencies.

"We are positive that the minister understands the depression and fear many of the women tourist guides go through working in such hazardous conditions.

"We reiterate that the main issue is the safety of the women tourist guides, women tour leaders and women bus drivers," the joint committee's statement added.

The panel involves the Malaysian Women Tourist Guides Association, Women's Aid Organisation, All Women's Action Society Malaysia and is supported by the Perak Women for Women Society, Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor, Sabah Women's Action Resource Group, Sisters in Islam, Women's Centre for Change (WCC) and Wanita MCA.