Thesun 2009-02-17 Page02 Gross Invasion of My Privacy Says Wong
-
Upload
impulsive-collector -
Category
Documents
-
view
215 -
download
0
Transcript of Thesun 2009-02-17 Page02 Gross Invasion of My Privacy Says Wong
news without borders2 theSun | TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17 2009
by Karen Arukesamyand Charles [email protected]
PETALING JAYA: Facing the mostembarrassing episode of her life withpictures of her in partial nudity beingcirculated, Selangor executive council-lor and Bukit Lanjan assemblywomanElizabeth Wong ( pix ) said yesterday shewill help police in their probe.
She refused to speculate on who isresponsible for this “gross invasion ofmy privacy”.
Describing herself as a “victim”, shesaid in a statement released yesterdayafternoon that this is being done byunscrupulous persons to embarrassand discredit her. “The distribution andpublication of these photos or video
is a malicious attack on mypersonality.”
Wong said she had received a lotof support from her supporters, friendsand colleagues and members of herconstituency and thanked them for theirconcern, support and encouragement.
She appealed to the media to giveher and her family members some
“breathing space” to allow herto go through this trying time.
Wong said she wasinformed on Friday by TheMalay Mail reporters thatthey have intimate pho-tographs of her and thatsome people were trying todistribute photos or videos
showing her asleep in partialnudity and in intimate posi-
tions which she said constitutesa “gross outrage on my modesty
and the sanctity of my personal life”.The 37-year-old, who is with Parti
Keadilan Rakyat and had been activein human rights advocacy work all herlife, said she lodged a police report onSunday.
She said she will continue to carry
out her task in serving the people ofSelangor faithfully despite what hashappened.
Both theSun and The Malay Mail car-ried the report yesterday.
Petaling Jaya police chief ACPArjunaidi Mohamed confirmed the as-semblywoman (who he did not name)had lodged the report at 11pm at theDamansara police station on Sunday,adding they will investigate the natureof the complaint before deciding on thenext course of action.
“We have yet to see the photos andwe will only be able to classify the caseafter finding out how the photos werecirculated. We will call all parties whoknow of these photos,” said Arjunaidi.
He said that if the photos wereposted online, it will come under the
Multimedia Crimes Act and will behandled by the Commercial CrimesInvestigations Department.
It is learnt that police will record astatement from the journalists of thetwo dailies and the assemblywoman’sformer boyfriend.
When asked what were the possibleoffences committed, Arjunaidi said oneis the distribution of nude photos, anoffence under Section 292 of the PenalCode which carries a fine and imprison-ment of up to three years or both.
He said if such photos are taken withconsent, it is not an offence if kept forprivate viewing.
He said pictures captured withoutthe consent of a person is also anoffence and action can be taken againstthe person who took them.
Gross invasion of my privacy, says Wong
by Maria J. Dass and Giam Say [email protected]
KUALA LUMPUR: Minister in the Prime Min-ister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed NazriAbdul Aziz yesterday said he sympathised withSelangor executive councillor and Bukit Lanjanassemblywoman Elizabeth Wong over whatshe is facing, and that “to discredit her in thisway is not right”.
“I hope she will be able to strengthen herspirits and not be bothered too much by whathas happened,” he said when approached atParliament lobby.
Deputy Education Minister and MCA Youthchief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said it is immoralto expose the intimate photos of a person andsuch act must be punished by the law.
“We cannot allow such a norm to grow.Since it has become a police case, theauthority must investigate the case thor-oughly,” he said adding the matter was nolonger political and the culprit must face theconsequences.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’sDepartment in charge of the Public ComplaintsBureau T. Murugiah also condemned the distri-bution of the private photographs.
“This is a culture that people must avoid asit displays disrespect towards women. Howwould we feel if anyone were to do this to ourdaughters, wives, sisters or mothers? In viewof an increase in such incidents, I would alsolike to warn women to be more careful and becautious about who they entertain and bringinto their homes.
Other comments:» Women’s Aid Organisation presidentIvy Josiah: “If whoever is behind this think thatthey have succeeded in humiliating ElizabethWong, they’re wrong! They have humiliatedthemselves through this vile, despicable and ir-relevant act. I think the public should constantlyand strongly reject this kind of deliberate at-tempts to tarnish a person’s reputation.”
She said the people should focus on Wong’sworks and commitment in serving Malaysians.
» Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed HamidAlbar said it is important thatproper vetting should be donewhen choosing a candidatefor state and parliamentrepresentatives.
“If you just simply recruitpeople, you will have allthese problems.”
Asked if the assembly-woman is the victim in thisincident, Syed Hamid said: “I donot know ... She has admitted thatshe was the person in the photos, but she isentitled to make a police report and the policewill investigate. You may take naked photos in your home, but you must make sure the publicdo not get to it.”
» Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Is-mail Sabri Yaakob: “I don’t have the detailsbut the assemblywoman has a right to lodge
a police report if she feels that her privacy hasbeen abused or violated. This has happenedbefore as in the case of actress Nasha Aziz.But if there is any wrong done on her part thenshe should uphold integrity and relinquish herpost. If not, then she should lodge a policereport and let the police take the next courseof action.
“Some quarters say there are political rea-sons for the disclosure of these pictures butit is not our job to go around taking picturesof naked women. We have work to do for therakyat and for development.”
» Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai:“There are two issues here. One
is the lifestyle of the assembly-woman and the second theinfringement of her privacy.I don’t have the details anddon’t know if the picturesare authentic, but if it re-flects a certain lifestyle, it is
unbecoming of a leader as wehave culture and conventions
that we live by. The second is theissue of violation of her privacy. Both are notright and should be avoided.”
» Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri KhalidIbrahim: “We are having a party discussion onthe status of the incident. I think it would beunfair to make any decision at this time withoutproper information and it could be construedas one of the ways that somebody is trying toframe the victim. The best we can do is to makeit open and we invite the police and authoritiesto make appropriate investigation.”
He said the state executive council meetingon Wednesday will discuss the incident too.
» Selangor senior exco and Seputeh MPTeresa Kok said she had nightmares whenWong told her about the incident.
She said the people should support thevictim.
“Although she sounded normal when shetold me about the incident, as a political figure,the incident hurts her worse than anyone.”
»Wanita MCA national chairman, DatinPaduka Chew Mei Fun: “We are outragedby such shameful acts of using women assexual objects.
“We condemn the actions, firstly be-cause the taking of photographs of bodilyparts without their consent or knowledgeis against the law and punishable under the
Penal Code (Act 574).“Secondly, posting of such pornographic
materials in the public also constitutes a viola-tion under the same act.
“Thirdly, any member of the public whocirculates, distributes or passes on such pho-tographs should also be condemned as thisis tantamount to propagating pornography,which is also illegal under Malaysian law.
“We want the government to conductawareness campaigns to promote respectfor women, women’s human rights as well asnon-violation of women. “
Distribution of private photoscondemned by politicians, NGO
SHAH ALAM: Umno Youth exco memberDatuk Mukhriz Mahathir should leave it to theBarisan Nasional top leadership to decide on thecandidate contesting the Bukit Selambau stateby-election in April, MIC vice-president DatukS.Veerasingam said yesterday.
He said Mukhriz should cease making state-ments (on which BN component party shouldbe represented in the by-election) and instead,adhere to the power-sharing concept practisedby the coalition.
This, he said, was to ensure a balanced racialcomposition at state and parliamentary level.
“I am sure Mukhriz, and Umno Youth itself,would not want to see MIC candidates devoid ofseats at the state assembly and parliamentary
levels. I appeal to all Umno Youth exco membersto refrain from speculating which party could berepresented in the Bukit Selambau by-election.”
He said this in response to a statement byMukhriz in a Malay daily yesterday, which quotedhim as saying the time was ripe for Umno repre-sentatives to be given a chance to contest in theBukit Selambau by-election by looking into thecurrent situation, including the needs of votersin the constituency.
Veerasingam said Mukhriz’s statement re-flected “as though Indians will not have seats fromBN” to contest in the Bukit Selambau by-election.
The Bukit Selambau seat fell vacant, follow-ing the resignation of Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s V.Arumugam on Feb 8. – Bernama
‘Let leadership decide candidate’
©2009 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY2009 Doctor’s Associates Inc. SUBWAY™
is a registered trademark o Doctor’s Associates Inc. Malaysias a registered trademark o Doctor’s Associates Inc. Malaysia
dream ywith
Seaood & Crab
SATURDAYS
withChicken Teriyaki
MAGICALSUNDAYS
RED-HOTMONDAYS
with Italian B.M.T.™
with Tuna
CHeeRYTUESDAYS
LIVEL YWEDNESDAYS
withMeatball Marinara
F RESHTHURSDAYS
with Turkey Breast
& Turkey Ham
cool FRIDAYS
withSmoked Turkey
RM7.50*
6-inch only
SPICE
UPYOURDAYWITHSUB OF THE DAY™
Enjoy a hearty meal flled with rich ingredients
and nutrition at unbeatable value.
*Not applicable with other oers. Products shown are or illustration only.Not applicable with other ofers. Products shown are or illustration only.
Subway™ reserves the right to change and revise the SUB OF THE DAY™ubway™ reserves the right to change and revise the SUB OF THE DAY™
promotions rom time to time. Limted time oer.romotions rom time to time. Limted time ofer.
KL • AEON AU2 Setiawangsa • Avenue K, Jalan Ampang • Bangsar •• AEON AU2 Setiawangsa • Avenue K, Jalan Ampang • Bangsar •
Berjaya Times Square • Jalan Bukit Bintang • KL Sentral • Pavilion • Pearlerjaya Times Square • Jalan Bukit Bintang • KL Sentral • Pavilion • Pearl
Point Mall • Plaza Mont Kiara • Pusat Bandar Damansara • The Gardens,oint Mall • Plaza Mont Kiara • Pusat Bandar Damansara • The Gardens,
Mid Valley City • Tune Hotels.com, Jalan T.A.R • Wisma Selangorid Valley City • Tune Hotels.com, Jalan T A.R • Wisma Selangor
Dredging, Jalan Ampang • Wisma UOA, Jalan Dungun • Wisma UOA,redging, Jalan Ampang • Wisma UOA, Jalan Dungun • Wisma UOA,
Jalan Pinang •alan Pinang • Selangor • Amcorp Mall • Centrepoint, Lebuh Bandar• Amcorp Mall • Centrepoint, Lebuh Bandar
Utama • Dataran Glomac, Kelana Jaya • IOI Mall, Puchong • Jalan SS15/8,tama • Dataran Glomac, Kelana Jaya • IOI Mall, Puchong • Jalan SS15/8,
Subang Jaya • Jaya 33, Jalan Semangat • One Utama (New Wing) • Summitubang Jaya • Jaya 33, Jalan Semangat • One Utama (New Wing) • Summit
Subang • Sunway Pyramid • The Mines Shopping Fair • Tropicana City Mallubang • Sunway Pyramid • The Mines Shopping Fair • Tropicana City Mall
• Uptown Damansara •Uptown Damansara • Penang • Auto City • E-Gate • Gurney Tower• Auto City • E-Gate • Gurney Tower
For new Subway Restaurants opening near you, visit
www.subway.com
Operating over 30,000 restaurants in 87 countries
POLICE TO
RECORD
STATEMENT
FROM
EX-BOYFRIEND