KUCHING: Addressing a pervasive societal challenge, it has been observed that men are often reluctant to report instances of domestic abuse or sexual harassment against them in Malaysia.
Despite the equal protection offered by the Domestic Violence Act 1994 (Act 521), the underreporting of such cases has become a noteworthy concern.
The disparity in reporting raises questions about the societal factors and challenges that hinder men from coming forward, with potential feelings of embarrassment cited as a significant barrier.
A certified and registered counsellor and therapist, Dr Christie Augustine Kiek, shed light on the prevalence of sexual harassment, particularly in workplaces and higher institutions.
Dr Christie, who often handles cases through the Talian Kasih hotline at 15999, highlighted that a majority of the callers are women.
She asserted that women are generally more open about voicing their problems compared to men, who tend to keep things to themselves.
“According to my data from the hotline, approximately 90 per cent of the cases I handled involved women.
“This suggests that women are more willing to share their experiences and seek help,” she said to the New Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
However, she acknowledged that victims, both men and women, often choose not to report incidents due to concerns such as year-end evaluations and academic marks, especially when the perpetrators hold positions of authority.
She shared that men do reach out to Talian Kasih for issues like job loss or workplace bullying.
Dr Christie then recounted one case in an agency where both the doer and victim were under disciplinary units, and as a counsellor, she guided the victim in avoiding the harasser.
“She can’t report the doer because they are from the disciplinary department.
“Sexual jokes, sexual proposals, and comments are classified as sexual harassment, even in the absence of physical touch.
“If someone comments, ‘I can’t resist looking at your backside. It’s tempting’, even though there is no physical contact. It is sexual harassment,” she added.
Towards this end, Dr Christie informed about a free counselling booth available in most programmes organised by the Ministry of Women, Family, and Community Development (KPWKM) and Yayasan Kebajikan Negara nationwide.
This underscores the government’s commitment to providing support and assistance in addressing issues related to sexual harassment.
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