We are disturbed by the media focus on the OKU (disability) status of the 19-year-old man arrested on 21 February in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl at a mosque in Selangor.
Some media outlets approached the Department for Social Welfare and the Selangor Department for Social Welfare and confirmed that the man has a “learning disability since childhood”.
This information has little bearing on the case and the alleged action, but media attention has put a spotlight and made the man’s disability status the focus of public attention.
The media have chosen to invoke the OKU label to sensationalise the alleged crime. As Norman Goh, the producer of the Bicara Minggu Ini podcast, has aptly observed: “A careless headline can destroy years of advocacy, shatter trust, and fuel discrimination.”
This example of irresponsible media reporting and biased journalism will worsen bias and prejudice in the minds of the public that people with disabilities are not to be trusted and are sexual perpetrators. It will worsen discrimination against people with disabilities and those closely associated with them and hinder efforts of inclusion of the OKU community in Malaysian society.
In reality, available local data show that the vast majority of sexual abusers are neurotypical individuals, people without disabilities; however, the media have never reported or focussed on the non-disability status of those perpetrators.
There are many similar incidents of poor and negative media reporting on the OKU community, especially those with autism, psychosocial disabilities (mental health problems) and learning disabilities.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
The 21 February incident is reported to have been viralled on social media before the suspect was arrested.
The lack of standard operating procedures and legislation to protect people with disabilities from any breach of confidentiality by those who have access to their OKU card information and to irresponsible behaviour in the public domain that could prejudice outcomes for the concerned OKU make attempts to redress this difficult.
We appeal to the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia to take action to train our media outlets on disability, child, gender and age-sensitive and non-biased reporting.
We also appeal to minister Nancy Shukri and the Department for the Development of People with Disabilities (JPOKU) to introduce standard operating procedures that protect people with disabilities from any breach of confidentiality of the personal information held by the JPOKU of OKU card holders by Department for Social Welfare personnel at all levels, to anyone except when permitted by the law.
We are unaware of any provision of law that allows such personal information (eg an individual’s OKU status) to be disclosed to the media without the explicit written consent of the concerned individual.
This negative and discriminatory media reporting strengthens our call for the urgent amendment of Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution to expressly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of disability and the comprehensive amendment of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 to align it with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
To the good people of Malaysia, we ask that you do not join in ‘viralling’ this type of negative reporting. Recognise that all of us – disabled or not – have the same rights and entitlements to justice. Releasing CCTV recordings on social media while police investigations are ongoing is a no-no.
We need to work harder in Malaysia to mature as a society, to become a fully inclusive “developed” nation.
To all media practitioners, we appeal that you please use your words wisely in the spirit of Steven Aitchison: “Your words have the power to hurt, to heal, open minds, open hearts, and change the world. Never forget the responsibility you have over the words you speak.”
Signatories:
- Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician; child-disability activist; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project; advisor, National Early Childhood Intervention Council
- Yuenwah San, disability justice and dementia care advocate; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project
- Datin Anit Kaur Randhawa, parent advocate; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project; co-chair of the Bar Council ad hoc committee on people with disabilities; and podcaster, Kita Family Podcast
- Ng Lai-Thin, disability-inclusion advocate; member, The OKU Rights Matter Project
- Dr Wan Puspa Melati, associate professor (sociology), Taylor’s University; vice-president II, Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies National Organization (MyBIM)
- Dr Shyielathy Arumugam, advisor, National Early Childhood Intervention Council; parent advocate
- Annie Ong Hwei Ling, deaf advocate; president, National Organization of Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia Instructors (NowBIM)
- Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD)
- Malaysian Association of Sign Language Interpreters (MyASLI)
- Ch’ng B’ao Zhong, autistic, licensed and registered counsellor
- Dr Anthony Chong, deaf individual; advocate; researcher (deaf mental health), Monash University Malaysia
- Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation, Malaysia (Dawn)
- Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia dan Pengajian Pekak (MyBIM)
- Jessica Mak, deaf advocate; president, Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies National Organisation (MyBIM); vice-president; Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation, Malaysia (Dawn)
- Allida Muhammad Said, rare disease advocate; vice-president, Malaysian Rare Disorders Society (MRDS)
- Srividhya Ganapathy, co-chairperson, Crib Foundation
- Vicky Chan, deaf-blind advocate
- JUPEBIM (Interpreters and Translators Association for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Deaf Community)
- Dr Choy Sook Kuen, founder, Oasis Place; podcaster Kita Family
- Desiree Kaur, founder, Project Haans; podcaster, Kita Family
- Nori Abdullah Badawi, owner, We Rock the Spectrum Gym for All Kids; chairman, Yayasan Budi Penyayang Malaysia; podcaster, Kita Family
- Nik Nadia Nik Mohd Yusoff, moderator of Facebook group Autisme Malaysia; podcaster, Kita Family
- Pertubuhan Diversiti Pekak Malaysia (Madeo)
- Meera Samanther, disability-gender activist; parent advocate; committee member, Association of Women Lawyers (AWL); co-chair of Bar Council ad-hoc committee for people with disabilities
- Haymasuthan Periasamy, founder, Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation, Malaysia (Dawn)
- Lee Siow Hua, Persatuan Media and Teknologi Pekak Kuala Lumpur dan Selangor
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
