Thread by @IMMikhailHafiz

"Stop using the emergency to cripple the progression of the Sexual Harassment Bill that was birthed by Harapan, to be tabled in Parliament. Prioritise it. Reach out to us. Speak to members of civil society who have been advocating this for decades." @PattoKasthuri

https://twitter.com/malaysiakini/status/1401742470904352776

"In the recent furore surrounding the courageous exposé by teenage trailblazer Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam of rape culture sparked by her teacher, many students in institutions of higher learning have also taken to social media (cont'd below)

to share their experiences being sexually harassed and to reach out to other survivors at the hands of their lecturers and even security guards at their varsities."

"Women and men have been sharing how they had been suffering in silence with sexual advances and harassment made by their superiors or peers and chose to remain quiet in fear of losing their jobs."

"Today, Malaysians are bravely coming out and stepping forward as survivors of sexual harassment. Sadly, there is no clear-cut law on sexual harassment to protect them."

"Often, acts of sexual harassment are the root of sexual violence and rape although the latter crimes may happen without any prior harassment."

"It is an act of aggression, bullying, and supremacy and the government can and must put a full stop to it by using political will to table the bill in Parliament."

"Having a Sexual Harassment Act will mean that women and men need not fear losing their jobs, being demoted, being unjustly treated, discriminated against, and ‘cold-storaged’ if they come forward to file a complaint against their harassers."

"It will also mean that enforcement officers will also be empowered to submit a report on sexual harassment after their investigations, without being too concerned about which law to use like now. The same applies to cyberbullying as well."

"Have an online meeting with MPs across the political divide to look through the draft of the bill to give constructive criticisms, suggestions, and professional opinions to strengthen the document (cont'd below)

so that we will finally have, after over 20 years of waiting, a robust bill that will protect victims of sexual harassment and ensure justice for them."

"No more excuses, Mr Attorney-General. No more excuses, Rina. We shouldn’t only act or react when it happens to one of us.

Malaysians are ready for the Sexual Harassment Bill to be tabled in Parliament."