Women needed to be bold and tell their story to change the perception that this behaviour was acceptable, he said.
“As long as these incidences are swept under the carpet then it will never be heard. They must come to the knowledge of the public.
“That ‘macho’ or male chauvinist culture that makes it seem that it is all right to harass women must stop.
“They have to stop believing that this is permitted. So women need to speak up and tell them that this is not acceptable, especially by political leaders.
“The culture now paints the picture that it is all right to do this kind of thing and that it is just like a game.
“It is important for women to express their unhappiness over this sort of behaviour and even make police reports if necessary,” he told FMT.
The issue arose after a news portal reported the accounts of women journalists who said they had experienced sexual advances from male politicians they were assigned to interview.
Two of the eight journalists featured by the Asian Correspondent were Malaysians.
One said a politician had sent lewd text messages and stroked her thigh during an interview. The other said an MP had persistently messaged her to ask about her personal life and had invited her to dinner despite being married.
Jeyakumar admitted there could be fear of repercussions which caused the issue to remain swept under the carpet, but urged women to still voice out their disapproval about such behaviour.
One of the feared repercussions was that particular politician blacklisting the journalist from receiving comments or press statements from him.
“Politicians need the media. They will still need to speak to you and if they decide not to talk to you, it would be their loss,” he said.
There was no link between dressing sexily and the harassment of women, he said, referring to the initial statement made by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Mohd Taufek Razak.
Taufek came under criticism when he said female media practitioners should mind their appearance while on duty, including not dressing sexily, in order to avert sexual harassment.
“Harassment of women cannot be blamed on what they choose to wear.
“Even if a woman wears something you may think is sexy, that does not give you the right to harass her. Harassment is wrong. You cannot link the two.”
NUJ has since issued another statement to the press: “We realise that the dressing and appearance of journalist should not be blamed as a cause of sexual harassment.
“We do not endorse such a stance. The union also regrets the impression given by specific remarks that appeared to blame the victims.”
Dr Michael Jeyakumar