KUALA LUMPUR – A woman claiming to be the victim of a sexual assault involving Permatang Pasir assemblyman Muhammad Faiz Fadzil says that her report is not politically motivated, and she leaves it to police to investigate the matter.
Facebook user Yuslaini Azmi in a statement on the social media platform today said she does not want the matter to be used as political fodder by any party.
“Irresponsible parties will take advantage and try to politicise this issue, not only among politicians, but also to the public at large.
“I reject dirty politics that will worsen the situation only because we are in the opposition bloc.”
Yesterday, Faiz denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a 31-year-old shop assistant earlier this month.
Faiz, who is Amanah national council member and son of late PAS president Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor, said he had been called by police over investigations into the case on March 18, following a report lodged against him.
His response came after police had earlier confirmed their investigation into an Amanah assemblyman.
Subang Jaya police chief Abd Khalid Othman confirmed that the victim had lodged a report against the politician on March 16 at the Bandar Sunway police station.
In the report seen by The Vibes, the woman said on the night of March 8, on a trip to Sunway Pyramid shopping centre, the politician tried to touch her inappropriately.
She alleged that the suspect suddenly tried to hold her hands, but she pushed his hands away. Despite being spurned by the woman, the man then allegedly attempted to molest her by pulling her shoulders and holding her hands again.
Despite feeling uneasy by his advances, the woman said the man continued his actions and warned her not to tell anyone about the incident.
The victim later lodged a report due to emotional stress.
Yuslaini said she hoped police will probe the matter professionally, with transparency and without intervention of any political power.
She added that she hopes police will re-open a decade-old case on a kidnapping that she reported, but did not explain the details of the incident.
“It has been 10 years since that case has been delayed and left hanging without any action (taken). I wish for justice for myself as a woman and to feel safe in my own country.
“This is not a case that involves only me as an individual, but also all women who have gone through and are going through sexual harassment in this country.”
Yuslaini said she is brave in her convictions and confident that many women are suffering in silence without any support and facing trauma that is difficult to overcome.
“Women cannot be seen as weak individuals, slaves or second-class citizens.
“I believe justice can only be upheld if authorities investigate without being selective and practising double standards in judging a case.” – The Vibes, March 24, 2021
