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The disturbing and damning silence on WWF-Malaysia

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Authorities should demand an immediate investigation into all organisations, charities and companies to ensure that no one is made a victim of sexual exploitation.

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Earlier this month, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia became the latest organisation to attract negative publicity over allegations of sexual misconduct.

This followed the uproar over UK-based charity Oxfam, which came under heavy fire after various women claimed that food and cash had been exchanged for sex.

The allegations snowballed and reached epidemic proportions. The government threatened to stop Oxfam’s funding, celebrities and clergymen demanded that their names be removed from the list of patrons, and individuals and corporations alike stopped their monthly donations to the charity. Its deputy chief executive resigned, and its regional overseas directors risk further action.

It appears that WWF Malaysia suffers from the same problems. Despite reporting alleged sexual improprieties to the management, former workers say their complaints were dismissed or brushed under the carpet.

Last week, the organisation launched an investigation into the claims, but only after they had been publicised on social media and mainstream news.

Why have the problems become so great? Of what use is the Human Resources Department if neither the allegations nor the workers are taken seriously?

Permaisuri Johor Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris Shah summed up Malaysians’ response to paedophilia perfectly when she said the people do not really care about children who are affected by sexual predators. Is this the reason for our laissez-faire attitude to allegations of sexual abuse within the older population?

WWF-Malaysia executive director Dionysius Sharma said the allegations were “troubling” and assured that the matter would be investigated and those who felt victimised contacted.

Better late than never, but why did the organisation fail its former employees in the first place? Was WWF-Malaysia afraid to expose the sexual predators in its ranks?

Surely addressing the victims’ concerns and ridding the organisation of such people should have been its main objective, not protecting its reputation.

Several months ago, I wrote about a scandal involving a 56-year-old MIC branch leader who pestered the mother of a teenager to urge her daughter to have sex with him. He promised the teenager employment, but only if she had sex with him.

How many of his victims were afraid to come forward? Why should he escape scot-free? Do the parties involved not care about the shame, pain and lack of morality?

The allegations of sexual misconduct in WWF-Malaysia may likewise be the tip of the iceberg. How many other women were victimised, and are there any other sexual predators in the organisation?

Sexual abuse can happen in schools, factories, charities and political parties, but we are slow to act. Where is the political will to reduce the exploitation of women, especially ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8?

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim cannot remain silent on the serious allegations against WWF-Malaysia. She should demand an immediate investigation into all organisations, charities and companies to ensure that no men or women are victims of sexual exploitation.

The authorities’ silence on the issue is damning.

Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.

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