YOURSAY | Anytime is good time to speak up

YOURSAY | 'Something that is wrong remains wrong regardless of the passage of time.'

Minister: Why Pandelela raising 'old stories' of sexual misconduct – report

I shared my experience to support other victims, says Pandelela

MPs fume at sports minister for undermining Pandelela with his remarks

Faizal says remark on Pandelela taken out of context

Vijay47: National diver Pandelela Rinong, everybody stands with you. You were brave enough to voice out about the regrettable experiences you had.

In mentioning the encounters, you would surely be only reliving those distasteful moments. Yet your coming out would serve to warn others, boys and girls, of the predators around to exploit the vulnerable.

The assuring message from you is that there is nothing wrong with publicising unacceptable conduct, particularly of a sexual nature.

We all vividly remember the comments against Cindy Ong for speaking out about her coach back in May and the treatment student Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam received for complaining about a teacher who made lewd jokes. Even her principal, a woman at that, spoke very offensively about Ain.

Though not of an identical situation, the sad tale of entrepreneur Nur Sajat Kamaruzzaman is another example of how women and the weak are treated. In all fairness, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Ti Lian Ker appears to have attempted to stem the deluge.

But the coach in Pandelela’s case was dismissed “with immediate effect” while the head coach did not have his contract extended. Does this late rap on the knuckles sufficiently address the issue? What were they doing in the seven years that went by?

If such is the stand of the authorities, parents would be hesitant to allow their children, especially daughters, to venture into fields where animals may lurk.

ManOnTheStreet: Indeed, it truly troubles me that a person in a ministerial position (no less) fails to understand the trauma, anguish and challenges of someone who has been sexually abused, verbally or physically, at any point in her life by those in higher, more advantageous positions.

If one is well-read enough, one would know of stories of thousands of girls and women who have endured such abuse.

And because those that abuse often retain their positions of power and standing for many years after, there is little the helpless victims can do to seek justice as it's very often a case of "your word against the perpetrators".

Thus, the "long time" needed to seek justice. Added to that is the need for these brave girls to overcome the psychological trauma and build up the confidence to take a stand against the perpetrators.

Bruclax: As the minister of youth and sports, Ahmad Faizal Azumu seems oblivious of what has happened and is happening to athletes around the world. If measures are not put in place, this serious issue will continue to happen to these athletes.

It is a nightmare for those who suffer from such harassment. It is not easy for anybody who has been assaulted to come out to relive their horror. Usually, it takes great strength and fortitude to speak up about these assaults.

The manner by which our authorities react to sexual crimes has always been at best unacceptable. Stories of such incidents are plenty.

We need to change and change fast. What the minister should do is to swing into action and establish an investigation on the report and not cast aspersions on the person making the report.

Dr Spin: The minister’s comments today do nothing to reduce his foolish statement yesterday, and make things worse, by suggesting he had to hear both sides before taking action. That casts unnecessary doubt on Pandelela’s statement.

By all means, look into the matter including taking whatever steps to stop such harassment from happening ever again.

Coward: Even if Faizal chooses not to pursue something that happened long ago - which it is not - it is his duty to make sure it does not happen again.

Something that is wrong remains wrong regardless of the passage of time. If any, the allegation withstood the test of time.

Society has the duty to correct this wrong, no matter how long ago it is. The society also needs to ensure it does not happen again.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: Maybe Pandelela should be our youth and sports minister. She qualifies for both superbly. We can regain our glory days in sports. Girls and women will be safe and get the respect they deserve.

Please stand for election. And the party that respects youths and women should take her under their wings.

How refreshing it would be to have such a candidate, as compared to the old and tired faces. I can bet Malaysians will rally around her.

IndigoCat9464: Many women are afraid to come out and talk about sexual harassment against them due to being shamed by our less open-minded society.

Does it matter if something wrong like this took place today, yesterday, a few months ago or even decades ago?

Pandelela has found her strength to come forward for others like her, who for a very long time have kept silent due to our society's stigma and maybe worried that they will not be able to progress in their sports, or even in their workplaces, just because we have predators like the coach she mentioned.

Yes, thank you, Pandelela for your bravery. I hope others will come out and speak up.

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