The Joint Action Group for Gender Equality (JAG) is alarmed at the escalating level of attacks towards senior lawyer and human rights activist Dato’ Ambiga Sreenivasan who has been subjected to all manner of abuse lately.

The latest attack is by Sri Gading MP Datuk Mohamad Aziz who on June 26 had asked in Parliament whether Dato’ Ambiga should be “considered a traitor to the nation and should be sentenced to be hanged”

Such a remark, by a legislator no less, is shockingly offensive and violent to the extreme. It violates basic standards of decency expected of parliamentarians and shows a deep lack of understanding of the democratic process. A call for free and fair elections is a democratic right in a democratic country. That attacks on Dato’ Ambiga are selective in its approach has not gone unnoticed either.

Although the said MP has since retracted his remark and apologised to his BN colleagues in MIC and PPP, he did not apologise to Dato’ Ambiga. This lack of courtesy is unacceptable and should be condemned by all decent Malaysians.

Noticeably silent throughout the sustained attack against Dato’ Ambiga is the Prime Minister, forcing us to wonder if he condones such downright uncivilised behaviour. JAG is of the opinion that government leaders should focus their efforts on upholding justice, equality, civil liberty and democracy in Malaysia and not behave in a manner which betrays these principles.

Released by the Joint Action Group for Gender Equality, which comprises:

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
Perak Women for Women Society (PWW)
Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group (SAWO)
Sisters in Islam (SIS)
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC)

29 June 2012