KUALA LUMPUR: Adda Yussif was working late in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center late last month. It was her fourth time in less than two weeks to be at the office until late into the evening. Walking to her car she says she caught a glimpse of a man to her right. She began to quicken her pace, pulling out her keys and a small bottle of pepper spray she keeps in her purse. She was prepared. “Thank God I was able to get in the car before he approached,” she told Bikyamasr.com. “I knew he was watching me and moving closer. I wonder what would have happened if I was parked farther away,” she added. For many women in Malaysia, the thought of entering a dark car park late in the evening is a fearful idea, as a number of women have been reportedly attacked by unknown assailants in recent months. For Yussif, she feels lucky. “I know we have security staff watching on cameras, but most car parks don't so that is really sad for women in the country who face violence because of a lack of security,” she continued. Women's groups in Malaysia are fighting back, hoping the government will boost security in car parks across the country to protect women. Women's Aid Executive Director Ivy Josiah said that the question of car park security had been raised repeatedly since the death of IT analyst Canny Ong who was abducted at the parking lot of a shopping mall on June 14 2003. She emphasized the importance of having CCTVs in car parks, better enforcement of the law against culprits and more citizen initiatives to prevent crime against women. “Women have to be able to walk anywhere at any time and feel safe,” she said. All Women's Action Society Malaysia president Ho Yoke Lin said the problem of “unsafe public spaces” is something many women in the country face regularly. Ho said that most, if not all, car park operators insist that parking in their premises is at the user's risk. “Thus, the burden of responsibility for the safety of a car park is not placed on its operator, but on the user,” she added. While everyone should try to be aware of their surroundings, the operator must provide a safe environment and the government is obliged to ensure this, said Ho. “We call on the government and local authorities to enact and enforce mandatory regulations on security measures that all owners and operators of public spaces must comply with,” she added. The question for Malaysian women is what the government will do in order to preserve their protection in sensitive areas across the country. “I just want to feel safe in my country again,” added Yussif.
