Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar

CONCERNED Malaysians, particularly women’s groups, feminists and rights activists, must have heaved a sigh of relief after learning that Arau MP Shahidan Kassim was eventually replaced as a member of the parliamentary special committee (PSC) on women, children and social development.

Parit MP Mohd Nizar Zakaria reportedly took over Shahidan’s position as a government member on the PSC concerned in the wake of a huge protest from a broad range of civil society organisations against the appointment of the politician who was previously charged with molesting a 15-year-old girl in his car in October 2018.

Shahidan denied the charge and was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal in 2019 after the girl withdrew the police report against him.

Although we were later told that Shahidan was initially appointed to the committee temporarily while waiting for his replacement, it, nonetheless, suggests the insensitivity of the party that appointed him in the first place, given his past record and inclination.

Apart from the molest case, critics said Shahidan had opposed several times the proposal to set up such a committee, which is obviously crucial to affected women and children.

It is vital that committee members are made up of those who have the relevant expertise and commitment to deal with the matters at hand because its integrity should not be compromised. Nor should public trust in it be undermined.

Appointing a person with dubious or controversial background would only raise unnecessary doubts and a red flag about the committee concerned, especially when it is assigned to deal with such critical matters as the welfare of women and children that necessitate proper care and concern of its members.

The PSC concerned is tasked with holding the government accountable on a wide range of laws, including on sexual harassment, gender equality and child rights. This is especially important in a society that still has traces of patriarchy where some women and children become vulnerable and discriminated against.

Worried social media commenters are already likening the unfortunate appointment to letting a fox guard the henhouse.

It is already bad enough to be at the receiving end of male physical, emotional, psychological and verbal violence and other such misdeeds, it is additionally humiliating for vulnerable women and children to know that a committee meant to protect their collective interests involves the participation of a person of such misdemeanour and ideological bent. 

Had Shahidan’s appointment been maintained, it would have in some ways normalised such abhorring and aberrant behaviour as mentioned above so that it could be made acceptable by certain quarters in society, particularly those with political and material clout.

This appointment controversy touched the hot button, especially at a time when we are experiencing the Covid-19 virus pandemic where some house-bound women and also children have been subjected to abuse of various kinds by the male occupants, aside from economic hardship that could trigger family conflicts. 

It is, therefore, important that the public have confidence in the PSC concerned to work prudently in the interests of women and children and that of the larger community. – January 15, 2021.