THIS year’s ‘Penang Goes Orange or PGO’ campaign will be launched at the field of Dewan Datuk Haji Ahmad Badawi in Butterworth with a 2.6km walk on Nov 17 from 7.30am.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the walk is to raise awareness on violence against women.
“I’m proud that Penang is the first and only state in Malaysia to have the campaign from November to December annually since 2014,” Chow told a press conference in Komtar today.
“Every year, we shed light on the various forms of violence committed against women and girls in our society as well as the statistical figures on such acts to reflect their level of intensity.
“Last year, we focused on ‘stopping sexual harassment’ and it received positive reception from many levels of society. This year, our theme is on sexual abuse and the state again calls for public support for this meaningful campaign.”
The walk is co-organised by Women’s Centre for Change (WCC) and Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) and aptly named “I Stop Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC)”.
Chow said contrary to popular beliefs in Malaysia, most perpetrators are someone close or familiar to the sexual abuse survivors (76%), compared to a total stranger or new acquaintance (24%); rape cases also happened more often at home or buildings familiar to survivors (67%) than in isolated places, vehicles or estates (33%).
“More shockingly, at least three sexual abuse cases are reported in Penang every week. This figure may only be the tip of the iceberg as most survivors do not report their cases. It could be that 80% of cases are not reported,” Chow said.
He said the sexual abuse cases have no place in the Penang2030 vision for a ‘family-focused green and smart state that inspires the nation”.
Chow added that the state government has allocated funds to various women-related and leadership programmes.
On such support is the allocation of RM1.35 million to the newly-formed Women and Family Committee in the 40 constituencies in the state.
Chow said since 2017, the state government has spent RM142,000 and RM32,000 on Program Ibu Emas (Golden Mother Programme) and Program Ibu Tunggal (Single Mother Programme) respectively.
Under the Mammo Penang, the state government has committed RM2.66 million for the period between 2019 and 2022.
Chow expressed his gratitude to PGO strategic partners such as Penang Island City Council, Seberang Perai City Council, WCC and Escape Theme Park.
He also expressed his appreciation to PGO sponsors such as Deputy Youth & Sports Minister Steven Sim, who is also the Bukit Mertajam MP, Dell Technologies, Keysight Technologies, IPK College, OCBC Bank, Synergy 101 Solutions, In-tech Electronics and CLPG Packaging Industries.
Also present at the press conference were state executive councillors Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh and Dr Afif Bahardin, Batu Kawan MP P. Kasthuriraani, Sungai Pinang assemblyman Lim Siew Khim, Seri Delima assemblyman Syerleena Abdul Rashid, PWDC chief executive officer Ong Bee Leng, WCC president Susan Siew and ESCAPE Theme Park executive director Silviya Georgieva.
Chong Eng thanked the state government, WCC and all other women’s organisations, and JCI and JCI Pearl that worked in support of women and children issues.
Ong said the colour orange symbolises a brighter future and a fairer world free from violence against women and girls.
She said the 2.6km walk is not only an effort to create more awareness among the community but also more importantly what the public can do to support the victims and survivors.
Siew said WCC is very grateful to the state for its support over the past 10 years that has enabled them to help not just survivors from Penang but also other states.
“The programme has grown from initially doing counselling and servicing to court support. This is a never-ending work. And to have the state support, this is wonderful,” said Siew, whose association has been challenged by Chong Eng to bring in 10,000 walkers.
Siew said among the lucky prizes for the walk are a scooter, a smart TV set, an air conditioner, a bicycle, and smartphones.
For details on the walk, call WCC at 04-228 0342 or 016-448 0342 or look for the link on the Facebook page of WCC and PWDC.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi