Sinking to new lows in politicking

The condemnation continues over the distribution of nude photos of Selangor executive councillor and Bukit Lanjan assemblyperson Elizabeth Wong.

Wong lodged a police report last night over the circulation of the nude photos, said to have been taken without her consent and while she was asleep at home. This afternoon, she issued a statement .

Already the issue is mutating beyond the original situation, with a call for her resignation by Selangor Barisan Nasional leader Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

However, Wong’s friends and former colleagues in civil society groups have rallied around her, while questioning media intrusion into a personal matter.

Here’s what they said:

Simon Sipaun, vice-chairperson, Human Rights Commission

Whoever did this, it was in very bad taste. Imagine standing in (Wong’s) shoes, how would you feel? There should be a law to protect people’s privacy.

Privacy is important to a human being. If it this was done without consent it affects (the) dignity (of a person). Human rights are about dignity. And because (Wong’s) dignity has been violated, this is a violation of human rights.

Moon Hui, coordinator, Suaram

Wong is the victim (in this case). How she lives has nothing to do with her political career or her position as an executive councillor. She has done a great job so far and should continue doing that.

As a friend and former colleague, I think she should stand strong. Her personal life should have no impact in the public area.

The media should be responsible and not misuse their power. Editors should carefully weigh how they present this information. It is borderline between press freedom and privacy. But she is the victim and the newspaper must present this victimisation angle.

Maria Chin Abdullah, executive director, Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG)

We are appalled that private, sexually intimate photos of Wong were taken and circulated without her consent.

JAG is very concerned to note that politics are being practised in an increasingly violent, sensationalised and sexualised manner.

These photos are being released at a time when the tussle for power between Barisan National (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat is increasingly intense. Under no circumstance should anyone sink to this low level of politicking.

JAG cannot help but note that Wong is also victimised as a single woman, as highlighted in the media. Such tactics meant to deliberately cast moral aspersions and indirectly question her ability to carry out her duties as a politician and as a leader deserve no less than our utmost condemnation.

JAG demands that the police investigate the matter and bring the culprit or culprits to court. We also hope to hear strong statements from both the BN and Pakatan condemning the circulation of sexually intimate photos and videos as a means of practising politics. This underhanded tactic must not be part of the political culture of this nation.

Malik Imtiaz Sawar, president, National Human Rights Society

It is up to a news organisation to decide whether a particular issue is newsworthy, and if it has decided to report on a particular issue, then it must undertake the report professionally.

In the case of Wong, it is all right for the newspapers to highlight matters that would be of importance to their readers in these times of heightened political activity.

So far, the reporting in TheSun and The Malay Mail has been quite neutral; there was no suggestion of impropriety on Wong's part.

As for (Selangor Opposition Leader Dr) Mohd Khir Toyo's (left) call for Wong's resignation, he has failed to distinguish between the circumstances of (Dr) Chua (Soi Lek, right) and Wong. Chua's resignation was a personal decision, and it came at a time when his family was in great difficulty.

As for Wong, it is up to her and PKR to decide whichever is the best course of action to take. The nude photos were taken without her permission. She did not know it when she was being photographed, and neither did she sanction the distribution of the photographs.

But of course, ethical lines must be drawn for elected representatives. Not just in terms of sex scandals, but also in other matters pertaining to personal integrity.

In most other countries politicians who have been implicated in corruption cases step down before even before they are told to. Lawmakers need to know that they have to measure up to standards of morality that are higher than that of the average person.

Ragunath Kesavan, vice-president, Bar Council

With regard to Khir Toyo's call for Wong to resign, distinctions have to be made between her case and that of Chua.

In Chua's case, there was an extramarital affair but in Wong's case, there was no improper conduct of any sort on Wong's part.

Khir spoke of 'moral values' but what morality has been breached here?

I do not see what scandal there is in a woman who was being photographed without her permission. A scandal implies that wrongs have been done. The only wrong that has been done here is the breach of her privacy.

Jacob George, president, Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam

This is a classic example that confirms how desperate and vulgar the politics of the country have become. It is aimed at destroying a person’s image, career and credibility and hits at a person’s self, character and family.

This is trial by media. Why haven’t the real culprits been exposed for their corrupt activities? We should ask the editors of the papers running this story: what would you do if it was your mother, sister, daughter or wife?

This may not be criminal but it is a dirty game played by journalists, with newspapers running a story that they should not have touched in the first place.

Anil Netto, blogger

(In his blogspot ) Today’s front page of the Malay Mail is a regrettable example of gutter journalism … We are being struck by probably the greatest global economic downturn since the Great Depression …

The Selangor government is in the midst of crucial negotiations to take over water assets from private concessionaires who are eyeing a tariff hike (and) Perak is experiencing a major constitutional crisis.

None of this merits front page coverage in The Malay Mail, which instead has other priorities in its bid to sell more newspapers.