WAO ANNUAL REPORT 2009 - Women's Aid Organisation

the basis of sexuality. The theatre performances were devised prior to the event through a 9-
day workshop, conducted by the artists.
All content for Projek Sentuh was based on five real case studies illustrating the breadth and
depth of sexual regulations and moral policing in Malaysia, namely violence against
transgendered persons, ‘khalwat’ (close proximity) raids by religious authorities, sexual morality,
and discrimination on the basis of sexual expression and appearance. These cases formed the
content of the installation, and were the basis of the theatre workshop.
The event was staged as part of Pekan Frinjan, a monthly independent arts, culture and music
event held in Dataran Shah Alam. Pekan Frinjan is fast growing in popularity among urban,
Malay-speaking youth. Approximately 200 people, mostly university students, attended the
event and walked through the installation and theatre performances and was well received.
Leaflets were circulated explaining the five case studies and explaining what discrimination on
the basis of sexuality to supplement information in the installation.
Report by AWAM
7.4.3.3 Press Conference
One Day One Struggle – Malaysia: Penal Code Section 498: Out of Date, Out
With It!
On November 9, 2009 a press conference was held at the WAO Centre to draw attention to
Section 498 of the Malaysian Penal Code. The section pertains to “Enticing or taking away or
detaining with a criminal intent a married woman”. The press conference marked the start of a
media campaign to highlight the law that discriminates against women, and to call for its
abolishment. The press conference was also to support the international One Day One Struggle
Campaign organised by the CSBR.
Section 498 gained attention when the husband of a local celebrity pressed charges against
another man for trying to entice his wife. The group’s research had shown that prior to this, the
law had been used six (6) other times the first being in 1933 and the last in 1956.
“It has been argued that the law was put in place to protect women in the case of them being
kidnapped or taken against their will by another man. The law criminalises a person from “taking
or enticing away” or “concealing or detaining” a married women with an intention of having
sexual relations But, there already exists provisions in the Penal Code that would enable the
prosecution of such a crime.
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