SANDAKAN: Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee has criticised the lenient punishment handed to a man fined only RM25 for trespassing and peeping in a women’s public restroom at a shopping centre, calling it grossly inadequate and unlikely to deter similar offences.
In a statement on Monday, Vivian described the incident as a serious violation of privacy and societal norms, saying the light penalty failed to reflect the trauma inflicted on the victim.
“This behaviour — trespassing into women’s restrooms and waiting outside cubicles to peep — is deeply irresponsible and shocking. It erodes women’s sense of safety and causes lasting trauma,” she said.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});The offender was recently fined RM25 by the Kota Kinabalu Magistrate’s Court under Section 8(1)(e) of the Sabah Minor Offences Ordinance.
Vivian argued that the case should have been charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code, which carries stiffer penalties including imprisonment of up to five years, a fine, or both.
“A RM25 fine is far too lenient. It’s not enough to deter future offenders, and it undermines public trust in our justice system,” she said.
She cited a similar 2017 case at a Kota Kinabalu shopping mall, where the offender was prosecuted under Section 509, leading to a more fitting punishment.
“Laws should act as the last line of defence for public safety. When clear violations of women’s dignity are met with token penalties, it raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of our legal system,” Vivian added.
She called on the authorities to review existing legal frameworks and ensure that the implementation of laws reflects the seriousness of crimes, particularly those impacting women’s safety.
“People need a justice system that truly protects them, not one that merely offers symbolic penalties,” she said.
