On the occasion of Malaysia Children’s Day, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development. Dato’ Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil should fulfil her Ministerial duty to be pro-active and courageous in upholding the Child Act 2001 and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child to ensure them a safe physical, emotional and mental environment.
In the past she has paid lip service in opposing child brides but refused to act to take corrective measures. However lately she has even failed to condemn those who lie about innocent children or use innocent children as their object of fun to score political points.
Sharizat’s failure to reproach or condemn UMNO Youth President Khairy Jamaluddin for perpetuating a lie that my 16 year old son had sexually outraged the modesty of his classmate shows that Sharizat has failed in her Ministerial duty to protect the basic fundamental rights of a child to live with dignity and safety.
Amongst some UMNO leaders who highligted this shameful episode in the blogs is Bukit Gelugor(Penang) UMNO Division vice-chairman Dr Novandri Hasan Basri. He was then followed by many UMNO leaders rehashing the lies. Sadly even UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaludin joined in these shameful lies by poking fun at my son with this tweet:-
@Khairykj Khairy Jamaluddin
@PapaGomo Mungkin dia roboh Kampung Buah Pala sebab nak ganti dengan Kampung Buah Dada.
http://twitter.com/#!/Khairykj/status/125841671102529536
Even though the alleged victim had come out with a statement denying the lies, there is no remorse or apology as yet from Khairy or UMNO leaders.
The Child Act 2001 stipulates that every child is entitled to protection and assistance in all circumstances. No protection was afforded to my child when his photo was plastered all over the blogs and some media outlets. Furthermore, this contravenes Article 16 (Protection of Privacy) of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child to which Malaysia is a signatory. No child should be subjected to libel or slander.
What has Sharizat done to protect not just my child but also any child subject to such lies and slander? Violence against children whether physically, emotionally or mentally cuts across all sectors and violates their rights to protection and a safe environment.
I speak for every parent when I say we live for our children. We work to provide a better life for them. We struggle to ensure their world is better than ours. We strive to protect them from the evils of the world, especially when they are still young.
As a father, there is no pain worse than the helplessness you feel when you are unable to defend your innocent child against brutal, inconsiderate and appalling abuse. If you want to finish me off, do your worst but leave my innocent children alone.
Sharizat had said that as a mother, she constantly fears for her child safety. The question now is how is she going to act when the emotional security and mental well-being of a child is being violated by lies and slander?
In Malaysia, the Child Act 2001 [Act 611] was enacted to fulfil our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. In the preamble, it is stated that every child is entitled to protection and assistance in all circumstances without regard to any status. The provisions of this act are based on four core principles, namely: non-discrimination, best interest of the child, right to life, and respect for the views of the child.
What has she done to act against those responsible, including holding high political office, who have violated the spirit of these laws? Why has she chose to remain silent and passive when failure to act will only encourage more of similar mental and emotional abuse of children in future. Today my child may be the victim but will your or another child be the victim tomorrow.
Let’s act now to ensure that the needless trauma that my son had to go through because of such lies is not repeated on another or any innocent child.
LIM GUAN ENG
—— Mandarin Translation —–
民主行动党秘书长兼槟州首席部长林冠英于2011年10月22日在吉隆坡发表声明：
拿督斯里莎丽扎应该更加积极主动捍卫2001年儿童法令及联合国儿童权利公约，以保障孩子们在物质上、情感及精神上的安稳。
趁我国庆祝儿童节之际，妇女、家庭及社会发展部长拿督斯里莎丽扎应该履行她身为部长的职责，更加积极主动捍卫2001年儿童法令及联合国儿童权利公约，给予孩子们在物质上、情感及精神上安稳的保障。
过去她曾经口是心非，口说反对童婚，结果却不愿采取任何纠正措施。最近，她也没有谴责那些为了政治私利，对无辜孩子撒谎或利用无辜孩子成为他们的取乐对象的人士。
莎丽扎无法斥责或谴责巫青团团长凯里加玛鲁丁，他谎称我的16岁儿子非礼女同学，显示了莎丽扎没有尽到其部长的责任，保护儿童的基本权利，让他们活得有尊严及安全。
在部落格中突显这宗荒唐事件的巫统领袖包括：槟城牛汝莪区部副主席诺万迪里哈山，许多巫统领袖也闻鸡起舞，一起散布谎言。令人遗憾的是，就连巫青团团长凯里加玛鲁丁也加入他们无耻的行列，在他的推特上拿我的儿子开玩笑：
@Khairykj Khairy Jamaluddin
@PapaGomo Mungkin dia roboh Kampung Buah Pala sebab nak ganti dengan Kampung Buah Dada（译：可能他拆豆蔻村是为了要用胸部村取代之）.
http://twitter.com/#!/Khairykj/status/125841671102529536
虽然受害的女生已经站出来郑重否认上述谎言，但是凯里或其它巫统领袖却毫无悔意，也没有道歉。
2001年儿童法令阐明，无论在什么情况下每一名孩子都应该受到保护及协助。我儿子的照片被张贴在各个部落格及媒体时，他并没有受到保护。此外，这与马来西亚为签署国的联合国儿童权利公约相违。任何一名儿童都不应该遭受诽谤或污蔑。
莎丽扎做了什么来保护所有的儿童，不只让我孩子、也让其他孩子不必遭受诽谤或污蔑？各个领域都经常发生孩子在生理上、情感上或情绪上遭受暴力对待，他们生活在安全环境的权利也常遭侵蚀。
当我说我们为了孩子而活，我想我说出了每位父母的心里话。我们工作是为了让他们生活得更好。我们斗争是为了让他们未来的世界变得比我们更好。我们致力保护他们不让他们受到伤害，特别是在他们还小的时候。
身为父亲，在孩子面对残暴的、恶意及可怕的遭遇时，没有什么比起自己感觉无法保护无辜的孩子时更无助痛苦。如果你们要除掉我，尽管使出你们最恶毒的诡计，但是别碰我的孩子。
莎丽扎也说过，身为一名母亲，她时刻担心自己孩子的安全。问题是，针对一个心灵安稳及身心健康的孩子遭受谎言及流言时，她采取什么行动？
在马来西来，国会修正2001年儿童法令，以履行我们在联合国儿童权利公约里签署国的义务。在导言里，它说明每一名儿童都应该被保护及获得援助。这项法令制定依据四个立法原则：无歧视、以孩子的利益为依归、生存的权利及尊重孩子的意见。
针对那些身居重要官职、违反上述法律精神的人士，她采取了什么行动？为什么她选择沉默及被动、不采取行动？她这么做只会让更多孩子在未来遭受精神及情感上的伤害。今天我的孩子是受害者，但是明天你的孩子或其他人的孩子也可能是下一个受害者。
现在就行动起来，确保我儿子因谎言而经历的不必要创伤，不会在另一个无辜的孩子身上重演。
林冠英