The past few weeks has seen a viral video circulating around various social media between Malaysians, which show an unkempt and possible drug-addicted man hugging a lone woman to the ground in a local LRT station. The woman struggled alone for a few minutes to set herself free from the man's grasp, until a few good Samaritans witnessed the horrible incident happening in front of their eyes and stepped in to help set the woman free. The perpetrator then walked across the train tracks and began vandalising the train.
The actions of the perpetrator can be considered sexual harassment, and it's terrible to think what may have happened to the victim if the station had remained empty of passengers. The woman was decently dressed in long sleeves and pants, and the incident happened in broad daylight - beating the common stereotype that sexual harassment happens only because women wear revealing clothes and entice men to lust over their bodies. This incident also leads Malaysians to question the safety of taking public transport, as no guards nor officers were seen present throughout the duration of the incident.
Many Malaysians watched the viral video of the incident on social media, and many expressed their pity and sympathy for the victim and the possible trauma she would endure for the next few years of her life. For women in Malaysia, this is especially horrifying as many of us have had the fear of being attacked by random perpetrators while being alone. This incident has proved that perpetrators need not have a reason to attack women - they can just do so simply as they wish. Many commenters called out that authorities should have been present, and that this should have never happened. Others reflected on the daily life of women, leading to discussions on what else women can do to get perpetrators to leave them alone. As women, there's nothing much we can do but prepare ourselves if anything of this case happens, bringing a sharp object for self defence or ‘dressing modestly’ to avoid the prying eyes of men. The true question is: when will women in Malaysia be able to walk alone without worrying?
It is already 2023, and the ‘Me Too’ movement has already made its impact around the world. Yet, in Malaysia, women are unable to walk alone even in broad daylight without the fear of being harassed either physically or verbally. As a response to this incident, guards have been placed at stations to observe the happenings around them. However, would this be enough to prevent men from attacking women? Is it truly a prevention strategy or is it just a reactive solution? How can the authorities be more proactive in ensuring that this incident does not happen again?
Malaysian women do not request for top-notch security guards nor soldiers to protect them. All that we ask is to simply be respected, and to be left alone when we have made it clear that we are not interested. It is not personal, but just a question of safety, and it's always better to be safe than sorry. To our fellow Malaysians, remember to look out for one another when you see potential danger approaching. Always be vigilant of your surroundings and be ready to help someone in need.
Crystal Chai is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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