We are disturbed by the media focus on the OKU status of the 19-year-old man arrested on 21 February 2025 in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a young girl at a mosque in Selangor.
Some media outlets approached JKM and the Selangor Department of Social Welfare (JKM) 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 OKU status the focus of public attention.
The media has chosen to invoke the OKU label to sensationalise the alleged crime. As Norman Goh of Producer of 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 persons with disabilities (OKU) are not to be trusted and are sexual perpetrators.
It will worsen discrimination against OKU and those closely associated with OKU 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, persons WITHOUT disability; 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.
The 21 February incident is reported to have been viralled on social media before the suspect was arrested.
The lack of SOPs and legislation to protect OKU from 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 (CMCF) to take action to train our media outlets on disability-, child-, gender- age-sensitive and nonbiased reporting.
We also appeal to Minister YB Nancy Shukri and JPOKU to introduce SOPs that protect OKU from breach of confidentiality of the personal information held by the JPOKU of OKU cardholders by JKM 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 (e.g., 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 ground 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 (CRPD).
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.”
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