Malaysiakini :: Letters

Domestic Violence Act amendments not enough

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 03:12 AM PDT

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality welcomes the proposed amendments to the Domestic Violence Act 1994 (DVA). However, the amendments do not go far enough in protecting women from domestic violence.

JAG notes that many crucial issues that have been raised in JAG press statements and memoranda since 1999 have still not been addressed. These issues include:

Stalking and intimidation are common forms of domestic violence and should be included into the definition of what constitutes domestic violence in the DVA.

The category of victims/perpetrators must be broadened to include intimate partner violence, so that relationships outside of marriage can be included under the protection of the DVA.

Recognition that domestic violence be a separate offence under the penal code. As it currently is not, charges for domestic violence offences under the penal code do not reflect the serious, persistent and often repetitive nature of domestic violence. Domestic violence must be addressed in the penal code so that it can be read harmoniously with the DVA.

JAG however welcomes the positive changes that have been made in the amendment bill. These include:

The addition of "psychological abuse, including emotional injury" to the definition of domestic violence. However there must be correlating changes made to the penal code to reflect this.

Making domestic violence a seizable offence, which allows the police to investigate and arrest immediately.

The automatic attachment of the power to arrest to every protection order when violence is likely. This enables the police to arrest a perpetrator when a protection order has been violated.

A protection order may be made to prohibit or restrict the perpetrator from communicating by any means with the protected person.

JAG urges that the three crucial points highlighted above be addressed, in order to fully protect survivors of domestic violence. These suggested amendments should be made to the Bill prior to its Second Reading in Parliament. The existing version of the Bill only goes part of the way for comprehensive reform of the Act.

The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) comprises:

Women's Centre for Change, (WCC) Penang
Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)
Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (Empower)
Sabah Women's Action Resource Group (Sawo)
Sisters in Islam (SIS)
All Women's Action Society (Awam)

M'sian politics sinking into bottomless pit of chaos

Posted: 04 Oct 2011 12:00 AM PDT

Politics in Malaysia frankly has become irrational and nonsensical. Why? Some of our politicians are not capable of making rational choices and/or decisions. To this day, Malaysian politics has remained mired in the politics of communalism, feudalism, narrow ethnic and racial communitarianism, and they fail to realise and identify the social realities on the ground. While we proudly claim to be a modern multiracial nation, in reality we are only superficially modern.

Generally we are trying to make sense or even in some cases come to terms with Malaysian politics and reality. But little we doubt that of late Malaysian politics has become painfully and embarrassingly senseless.

The general erratic behaviour of Malaysian politicians demonstrate that they are practically impossible to predict and there has been instances of apparent public insanity among Malaysian politicians:

They talk about racial equality and respect, yet some fearlessly, openly and vehemently advocate racial supremacy in public;

Those who support the Pakatan Rakyat will suddenly denounce their party and openly support the Barisan Nasional, throwing and/or making baseless and groundless accusations and derogatory statements at Pakatan;

The long term national interests are no longer considered of importance nor debated openly;

Considerable amount of lurid scandals and controversies are proliferating;

Political parties that claim to champion minority rights and interests refuse to reject or protest against denigration of those minorities;

Aimless foreign policies.

By reason of the above we Malaysians in general are developing considerable anxiety and apprehension towards the present state of politics advocated by the government, that is becoming impossible to understand and digest.

Many say the only effective measure is relentless exposure even if it means it is sensitive, insensitive, seditious, security related or sacrilegious.

In essence the ugly truth is that there is no clear system or theory to hook on as far as Malaysian politics is concerned. Malaysian politics has become too elusive, too unsavoury, tiresome and complicated and this is no exaggeration.

It is not a laughing matter; we definitely require outstanding politicians and statesmen to steer the 28.5 million Malaysians to greater heights, rather than into some bottomless pit of chaos and mayhem.

Genuine reform-minded Malaysians must persistently demand for political credibility, viability and true representation, and remember always that there is no room for repugnant and capricious politicians.

R Kengadharan is an ex-ISA detainee.

Kredit: www.malaysiakini.com

Selasa, 4 Oktober 2011

Malaysiakini :: Letters

Malaysiakini :: Letters

0 ulasan:

Catat Ulasan