The statistic for violence against women in Penang is not pretty, with a total of 4,025 cases reported in the state from 2000 to 2013.

 

Last year alone, there were 240 domestic violence cases, 117 rape cases, and 90 “outrage of modesty” cases reported in Penang, as the state struggles to be a developed, intelligent city, and a popular tourist destination.

 

"Violence against women is still a problem in Penang," state executive councillor for youth, sports, women, family and community development Chong Eng said.

 

Against this backdrop, the state government will be launching its first state-wide campaign against violence against women, dubbed ‘Penang Goes Orange 2014’ on Nov 25.

 

The campaign is in response to the urging by the United Nations for every 25th of the month to be designated as ‘Orange Day’.

 

Organised by the Penang executive council for women, family and community development, and the Penang Women’s Development Corporation, the three-week campaign kickstarts on Nov 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on Human Rights Day on Dec 10.

 

Chong Eng said orange is chosen as the colour for the campaign because it has become synonymous all over the world with raising awareness and preventing violence against women and girls.

 

“These three weeks will see men and women, young and old, all across the world working together to raise awareness on the elimination of violence against women and promote women’s and human rights. We in Penang are proud to be part of this global movement,” Chong Eng told Malaysiakini .

 

It’s not personal, it’s public

 

“It is important for us to understand and accept that violence against women is not just a personal problem. It is a public problem, a Malaysian problem and a Penang problem. 

 

"Violence against women destroys lives, damages families, costs millions of ringgit in healthcare and the economy, and hurts the progress of society.

 

“Malaysia cannot be a developed nation if we believe that it is normal and acceptable to physically, emotionally and mentally abuse our wives, sisters, daughters and friends,” she stressed.

 

Many abuse cases are not reported or acted upon until it is too late, Chong Eng noted.

 

She cited a case in August last year in Bukit Mertajam, in which a woman named Lai Siew Fong was burnt to death, allegedly by her husband. 

 

“She died from 70 percent burns after suffering for 40 days in the Penang Hospital. She left behind two sons, who were only 6 and 10 years old,” the Padang Lalang assemblyperson related.

 

“We cannot allow this to continue. Penangites must say no to gender inequality which is the root cause of violence against women. 

 

“Penangites must stand in solidarity with victims of violence against women, and encourage victims who are suffering in silence to come forward and seek justice,” she added.

 

The official ‘Penang Goes Orange 2014’ campaign launch will be at Queensbay Mall on Nov 25, from 6pm to 10pm.

 

After the launch, there will be community events and workshops all over the state, including a programme at the George Town Literary Festival on Nov 28, Air Itam on Nov 29, Sungai Pinang on Nov 30, and Balik Pulau on Dec 6.

 

For the campaign, the Penang government is working with several partners, including Women’s Centre for Change Penang, World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action, Child Rising, Young Women Making Change Collective formed under IWRAW-AP, Penang Chinese Town Hall, and Penang schools.