Sexual harassment: Journo lodges report against Harapan media personnel

• UPDATED 6.52PM | Added media groups’ call for action to be taken.

SG BAKAP BY-ELECTION | A journalist has lodged a police report after allegedly being sexually harassed by a member of Pakatan Harapan’s media entourage during a campaign event in Sungai Kecil, Penang last night.

In the report sighted by Malaysiakini, the journalist told the police that she felt a strange vibration for at least two minutes during a doorstop session with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“Then I moved back a little because I felt uncomfortable at that time and found an unknown individual wearing a red shirt (with ‘Pakatan Harapan’ written on the back), with long hair (shoulder-length) and wearing a kopiah, who was behaving indecently,” she said.

In the police report, the alleged perpetrator then was questioned by several people there and he denied any wrongdoing despite a wet stain found on his pants, which he justified by saying that he just got back from the men’s room.

“He continuously insisted that he came from the toilet and claimed he was the media following the (Harapan) candidate, even though at that time the candidate was still inside the hall,” she said.

In a press conference today, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that he just heard about the incident after being inquired by the media and assured that the police would investigate the matter thoroughly.

Seberang Perai Selatan district police chief Chong Boo Khim has confirmed to the media that he had received a report and the case is under investigation.

It is currently unknown if the police have arrested the suspect.

In separate statements, both the National Union of Journalists and Gerakan Media Merdeka urged for stern action against the alleged perpetrator from both the authorities and the suspect’s employer.

They also urged the journalist’s employer to give the necessary space to seek assistance, including mental health support if there is trauma from the incident.

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