Local NGO president wants you to 'Listen'

Kuala Lumpur, January 15 - As some already know, the organization known as Suara Wanita 1 Malaysia (SW1M) recently commented on the internet regarding the recent debate that happened between the NGO’s president Sharifah Zohra Jabeen against a brave vocal university student that has gone viral.

This vocal upheaval happened at the recent University Utara Malaysia (UUM) Student forum. The UUM undergraduate, Bawani K.S was addressing the floor when Sharifah Zohra Jabeen hijacked the microphone and began verbally abusing her. The organization which claims to be a non-government, nonprofit body remains firm on their president’s actions in the public forum last month. Bawani now labeled as ‘Little Ambiga’ on the organization’s Facebook page as a reference of lawyer and Bersih co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, which to many is a truly rude gesture. Other disturbing comments can be seen on the SW1M’s Facebook page. Both SW1M and Sharifah Zohra Jabeen have adopted a rather cold attitude regarding the incident.

The innocent video on Youtube begins with the students swearing an oath in our national language before closing in to Bawani who bravely took to the microphone to speak her mind regarding the court ruling on the Bersih rallies, and asked why Malaysia could not provide free education like other countries. Bawani began to mention nations including Cuba, Argentina and a few others before being interrupted by the emcee of the forum, Sharifah telling her to ‘Listen!’ a total of eleven times before grabbing the microphone from Bawani.

Sharifah Zohra Jabeen said, “Number one, when this is our programme, we allow you to speak,” and followed with, “Number two, when I speak, you listen.” She later hushed another student who tried to speak out before saying “Let me speak” before asking the audience “Students in the hall, 2,300 students everywhere. Did I give her respect? Did I give her respect? I came up to her, shook hands with her and gave her respect as another woman. Do you think I need to answer her question with this attitude?”

What began as an innocent student forum became a nightmare, Sharifah began to speak her mind regarding who has issues and began to use animals as example. Cats, Dogs and Sharks became ammunition for her before labeling Datuk Ambiga as an ‘anarchist’ and continued to belittle the student for addressing the need for free education and even commented “if you equate Malaysia to other countries, what are you doing in Malaysia?”

The Umno Youth chief and a Barisan Nasional deputy minister tried to prevent more damage of the situation. Any young student would be mortified to be in this position, but it did not end there, Sharifah added “Go to Cuba, go to Argentina, go to Libya, go everywhere. Because all the students in this hall are happy with whatever the government does for them,” she said, before cynically saying to Bawani who was walking away “a very least of pendidikan [education]”.

A truly shocking event from what a normal student would experience. Many undergraduates in local universities have become more vocal regarding the government’s actions since the current administration’s decision to loosen the law for students to participate in politics.