Overseas NGOs have rallied behind Bukit Lanjan assemblywoman Elizabeth Wong, a former environmentalist and human rights activist, denouncing the plot - alleged to have been part of larger scheme hatched by Deputy Premier Najib Abdul Razak and his advisers - to kill her promising political career.
Said human rights advocate Jessica Rucell: “Wong’s political record is one of integrity. She has committed no crime and shouldn’t be forced to resign.
“The attack on her personal life illustrates the double standards women politicians face, with more attention paid to superficial and irrelevant matters than to their platform and political record.”
Said Michael Renner, an activist researcher: “Wong is an exemplary, courageous woman and this smear against her should not be allowed to sully her work and reputation.”
A peaceful gathering will be held outside the Malaysian consulate in New York at midnight Malaysian time tonight to protest the diabolical plot against her and as a show of solidarity for an ex-colleague who in the past had fought side-by-side with them for a better world.
The NGOs also want Eli’s KeADILan party and the Selangor state government to outright reject her resignation in a clear show of support for women’s rights to privacy and in rejection of underhanded political tactics.
The gathering is sponsored by Burma Point, Code Pink Women for Peace, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, and Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action.
Powerful enemies
The Malaysian political scene is now in turmoil, with the ruling Umno-Barisan Nasional government led by Najib, unable to accept a two-coalition system.
Bent on regaining the four key states it lost to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition - to which Eli belonged - Najib’s party is now full-spin into a rampage that includes bribery and blackmail to topple leaders from Eli’s side.
The 37-year old Eli took to politics full time after winning the Bukit Lanjan state seat in the March 2008 general election. Appointed a state executive councillor, she has won over the confidence and affection of her constituents with her hard work and willingness to help.
But early this week, she quit both her political posts after photos taken by a still unknown person were illegally circulated. The photos showed her in partial undress, asleep in her own home.
But despite the spiteful attempt to tarnish her, support for her has swelled and her constituents are demanding that she stay. Forced to retreat, her political enemies have begun shifting the game to religious grounds in a last-ditch bid to stub out her career.
Eli is now leave and in her parting message warned:
“I have been informed that they will continue to publish even more lewd graphical, sensational stories of my private life. I have also been told there will be a fresh assault, with more photographs and videos released and circulated in order to completely degrade and bury me.”
Said human rights advocate Jessica Rucell: “Wong’s political record is one of integrity. She has committed no crime and shouldn’t be forced to resign.
“The attack on her personal life illustrates the double standards women politicians face, with more attention paid to superficial and irrelevant matters than to their platform and political record.”
Said Michael Renner, an activist researcher: “Wong is an exemplary, courageous woman and this smear against her should not be allowed to sully her work and reputation.”
A peaceful gathering will be held outside the Malaysian consulate in New York at midnight Malaysian time tonight to protest the diabolical plot against her and as a show of solidarity for an ex-colleague who in the past had fought side-by-side with them for a better world.
The NGOs also want Eli’s KeADILan party and the Selangor state government to outright reject her resignation in a clear show of support for women’s rights to privacy and in rejection of underhanded political tactics.
The gathering is sponsored by Burma Point, Code Pink Women for Peace, East Timor and Indonesia Action Network, and Transnational Institute for Grassroots Research and Action.
Powerful enemies
The Malaysian political scene is now in turmoil, with the ruling Umno-Barisan Nasional government led by Najib, unable to accept a two-coalition system.
Bent on regaining the four key states it lost to the Pakatan Rakyat coalition - to which Eli belonged - Najib’s party is now full-spin into a rampage that includes bribery and blackmail to topple leaders from Eli’s side.
The 37-year old Eli took to politics full time after winning the Bukit Lanjan state seat in the March 2008 general election. Appointed a state executive councillor, she has won over the confidence and affection of her constituents with her hard work and willingness to help.
But early this week, she quit both her political posts after photos taken by a still unknown person were illegally circulated. The photos showed her in partial undress, asleep in her own home.
But despite the spiteful attempt to tarnish her, support for her has swelled and her constituents are demanding that she stay. Forced to retreat, her political enemies have begun shifting the game to religious grounds in a last-ditch bid to stub out her career.
Eli is now leave and in her parting message warned:
“I have been informed that they will continue to publish even more lewd graphical, sensational stories of my private life. I have also been told there will be a fresh assault, with more photographs and videos released and circulated in order to completely degrade and bury me.”
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