Press statement by Wanita MCA National Chairperson Wong You Fong
The proposal by Deputy Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that work places be equipped with higher definition close circuit television (CCTV) cameras is pragmatic. It is hoped that the installation of such devices will cause would-be perpetrators to desist from their acts, thus enabling work places to be safer.
More importantly, the mounting of CCTVs will empower victims to voice out with evidence when lodging a complaint with the Human Resources Department or filing a police report that sexual harassment, unwanted or illicit approaches which are sexual in nature by colleagues, visitors, clients or vendors had occurred.
Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that purchasing of CCTVs and labour cost to install the equipment will increase the operating cost of any company or organisation. To encourage the procurement of CCTVs to protect the safety of employees regardless of gender, Wanita MCA would like to propose that the government offers incentives or tax reliefs to the private sector, NGOs, associations or societies or any bodies so that CCTVs may be mounted inside the building and along the perimetres of the premises.
Meanwhile, to secure-proof the evidence, SOPs must be established to ensure that the Security Department or persons in charge of monitoring the CCTVs, or technical or IT personnel with know-hows of the CCTV’s technical details, do not and will not tamper with the recordings of the visuals to destroy or remove any evidence in attempts to protect the culprit or to pressurise the victim to withdraw the complaint.
Wanita MCA is concerned that unscrupulous and irresponsible employers may resort to such dastardly tactics to safeguard the company’s or organisation’s reputation or offending employees, or avoid the hassle of investigations by the police, or Labour Department or inconveniences of attending the proceedings of any court.
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