Arau MP's appointment to women’s committee comes under scrutiny

• UPDATED 5.20PM: Included comments from Kuantan MP and fellow committee member Fuziah Salleh.

Questions have been raised over the appointment of Arau MP Shahidan Kassim to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) for Women, Children and Social Development Issues.

The Umno lawmaker was previously charged with molesting a teenager in his car in October 2018. The 15-year-old later withdrew her police report against the politician after her father said the matter had been “amicably resolved”.

Shahidan has denied molesting her. He was given a discharge not amounting to acquittal after the prosecution dropped the case when the girl declined to be questioned.

Given the case, both politicians and activists have questioned Shahidan’s appointment to a PSC intended to protect the best interests of women, children and society.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Lanang MP and PSC member Alice Lau claimed that the Umno lawmaker had previously opposed the formation of this very select committee.

Lau said Shahidan had rejected the idea “many times” when it was being debated by the Parliament House Committee, of which they both are members of.

“His party leader appointed him to the PSC. I have no idea what is on their mind,” the DAP lawmaker added.

Fellow PSC member Fuziah Salleh said she was concerned that public perception of the committee would be compromised even before it began its work.

“We haven’t even started, but I am concerned if the public perceives there is bias or that we are not working in the best interests of women and children.

“I am concerned, but the selection of members is beyond my control,” Fuziah said when contacted.

The Kuantan lawmaker explained that the PSC was tasked with holding the executive branch of government accountable on a wide range of laws, including on sexual harassment, gender equality, child rights, the rights of those with special needs and the Orang Asli.

The bipartisan, seven-member PSC convened yesterday and elected Umno’s Pengerang MP Azalina Othman as its chairperson.

Besides Azalina, Lau, Fuziah and Shahidan, the other members are Rubiah Wang (GPS-Kota Samarahan), Che Alias Hamid (PAS-Kemaman) and Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (PAS-Pasir Puteh).

Shahidan’s appointment a 'mockery'

Former women, children and social development deputy minister Hannah Yeoh also questioned Shahidan’s appointment, given his previous child molesting charge.

“Is he the best person Perikatan Nasional can offer to the select committee?

“If the answer is yes, (it is) such a sorry state of the ruling coalition today.

“Given his background, his appointment makes a mockery of the intention of this select committee to protect children,” Yeoh told Malaysiakini when contacted.

While she lauded Azalina’s appointment, Yeoh said more opposition lawmakers should have been appointed to better reflect the composition in the Dewan Rakyat.

Meanwhile, prominent child activist Syed Azmi Alhabshee said a person charged of milesting a child should be replaced.

“How can someone who has been charged with molesting children be in this (PSC) list?

“Please replace him with another woman, please. Please,” he said in a statement on Facebook, confident that BN had more suitable candidates.

While not mentioning Shahidan by name, Syed Azmi stressed it was important to have PSC members who were reputable.

“If you want to form a select committee, (the members) chosen should be those who are clear of any accusations and charges. That’s all. Please.

“This involves matters to do with children,” he said.

Malaysiakini has contacted Shahidan and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for their comments.

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