PENANG sent a strong and unmistakable message against violence as a sea of orange filled the Esplanade during the launch of the Penang Goes Orange (PGO) Campaign 2025 on Dec 13, signalling a renewed and more action-driven stand against gender-based violence.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the campaign this year marked a critical shift, from symbolic support to decisive collective action.
“Orange represents a brighter future without violence. But more importantly, what I see today is a Penang that refuses to bow to violence. We will rise, we will speak out, and we will act, together,” she said in her address.
Lim stressed that while the campaign has been observed annually, 2025 calls for a change in mindset and urgency.
“This year is different. I want us to shift gears. I want us to change our mindset. I want us to move forward together as a movement,” she said.
Rejecting the notion that violence is a private or domestic issue, Lim asserted that any act involving harm and trauma is a societal concern.
“As long as there is blood, as long as there are screams, as long as there is trauma, it is no longer a private matter.
“It is a social issue. It is a humanitarian issue,” she said, adding that she remains committed to eradicating gender-based violence during her tenure as a state representative.
The theme for PGO 2025, Break the Silence, Jangan Dok Diam!, places the responsibility squarely on society rather than victims.
“This campaign is not asking victims to speak up. Victims have endured enough. This campaign calls on all of us to take action,” Lim said.
Central to the campaign is the promotion of the “5D” intervention approach, Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay and Direct — equipping the public with practical skills to intervene safely and responsibly when witnessing violence.
“This is the core purpose of PGO 2025 so that we have the knowledge and the courage to act, and not remain silent,” she added.
Lim also issued a firm warning to perpetrators, urging them to abandon violence and resolve conflicts through communication, while calling on youths to channel their courage into standing up against abuse and bullying.
“If you see a friend being bullied, do not stay silent. If you see a friend being abused by their partner, do not stay silent. If something feels wrong, don’t stay silent,” she said.
She concluded by thanking the Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC), 43 strategic partners, sponsors and volunteers, as well as Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow for his unwavering support for gender equality and inclusive policies.
“Let this campaign be the starting point of our collective solidarity. Let the orange light shine for the victims. If not us, then who?” Lim said.