PUTRAJAYA, June 9 — The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has received secondary information that a number of Malaysians have been sexually harassed by foreign diplomats.
In a statement today, Wisma Putra said however that to date, no report had been lodged with the ministry as a whole, or the ministry’s Department of Protocol which handles foreign mission in the country.
The statement said Wisma Putra viewed allegations of sexual harassment by foreign diplomat with concern, particularly since it involved the diplomatic corps in Malaysia.
“Individuals who have been victims of criminal acts by persons covered under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations should use the existing mechanism which the ministry (Foreign Ministry) has in place for complaints or feedback.
“The ministry assures all concerned that, immunity notwithstanding, there are avenues available to all ministries of foreign affairs (foreign ministries) in the pursuit of justice and an equitable solution to matters regarding the well-being, safety and security of individuals.
“The ministry undertakes to pursue that serious matter to ensure the interests of all sides are preserved,” it added.
In addition to the ministry’s after-office hotline number, individuals might also use the more generic [email protected] to register their grievances, it said.
According to reports, a non-governmental organisation claimed that local women taking up jobs as foreign embassy workers in Kuala Lumpur were plagued by sexual harassment at their workplace. — Bernama
