Silence is not consent

The Star

2 days ago

For many women, silence is not consent – it's survival. That was the unspoken truth at the heart of Julie Keeps Quiet, the Belgian film recently screened in Kuala Lumpur.
The event – hosted by the Embassy of Belgium in collaboration with the All Women's Action Society (Awam) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Malaysia – was more than just a cinematic experience; it emphasised the need for more discourse on the issue of sexual harassment in sports.
Set within the walls of a prestigious Belgian tennis academy, Julie Keeps Quiet tells the story of a young tennis player who withholds her voice after her coach is suspended following allegations of misconduct.
The film, Belgium's official submission to the 97th Academy Awards, does not offer easy answers. Instead, it presents an unsettling reality that many survivors of abuse recognise: that silence is often less a decision than a consequence.
Van Acker says the film highlights the many sensitive issues involved in sexual harassment and that solutions are required.
"Despite its title, the film by no means suggests that keeping quiet is a solution to sexual harassment," clarified Belgium's Ambassador to Malaysia, Peter Van Acker, in his opening remarks. "But it highlights the many sensitive issues involved, and that solutions are required."
Now in its 40th year, Awam has seen firsthand how deeply rooted gender-based violence is in Malaysia, Awam president Ho Yock Lin said in her welcome address.
"Since our Telenita helpline was established in 1991, we've received over 15,000 calls from survivors. This year alone, we've already handled eight workplace sexual harassment cases – and those are just the tip of the iceberg.
"Seventy-five per cent of women in the Asia-Pacific region have experienced sexual harassment. In 2023 alone, Malaysia recorded 522 official cases, with nearly 30 involving the national sports sector," she said.
Ho says when athletes are subjected to inappropriate comments or unwanted advances, the playing field becomes a space of fear, silence and lost potential.
"Sports is supposed to be empowering. But when athletes are subjected to inappropriate comments or unwanted advances, the playing field becomes a space of fear, silence and lost potential," she added.
"As such, 'Me Too' stories shouldn't be a rite of passage – they should be a call to action," said Ho.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who officiated the event, reaffirmed the government's commitment to safer sporting environments in her keynote address. In 2023, the ministry introduced the Safe Sport Code – Malaysia's first comprehensive framework to address misconduct and abuse in the sporting world.
"Safe spaces in sports are not optional – they are essential,' said Yeoh.
Safe spaces in sports are not optional – they are essential, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
The Code outlines five core offences – sexual harassment, sexual grooming, psychological misconduct, physical misconduct and bullying. Since its launch, 49 complaints have been lodged under the Safe Sport mechanism – 40 of them involving the National Sports Council. "The more we raise awareness, the more people will feel safe to come forward," Yeoh said.
Training and preventive work are ongoing. More than 3,700 individuals – including coaches, staff and athletes – have completed the Safe Sports Course. Background checks are now mandatory for all coaches under the National Sports Council, and efforts are underway to expand this nationwide.
Still, policy alone isn't enough and there is still much work to be done, she said.
"To truly challenge the culture of silence, we must address a range of cultural and structural issues by ensuring anonymous support for survivors, raising awareness and educating people, and fighting gender stereotypes."
(Anonymous support involves protecting the identity and ensuring the privacy of the survivor when they report or testify, so that the perpetrator doesn't retaliate, threaten or further harm them.)
(from left) Ng, Sarina, Hoh and Tehmina, at the panel discussion.
The film screening was followed by a panel discussion titled "Breaking the Silence: Exploring the Impact of Sexual Harassment in Sports and Beyond".
Moderated by broadcast journalist Tehmina Kaoosji, the panel featured national U19 women's team footballer Lauren Hoh Ruyi, former gold-medallist gymnast and Safe Sport Malaysia founder Sarina Sundara Rajah, and Awam legal advisor Dr May Ng.
Their insights reflected the realities behind Julie's silence – fear, stigma and power imbalances.
"Speaking up shouldn't come at the cost of a person's career," said Hoh. "For survivors, the decision to report abuse often feels like choosing between justice and professional/personal survival." Sarina added, "Silence is often misread as consent. But it's really about power – who has it, and who doesn't feel safe enough to challenge it."
Ng addressed the stigma that silences survivors.
"There's a myth that silence equals consent but really, it equals fear; fear of not being believed, of being blamed, or of losing your place in the sport you love. We need to flip the burden. Breaking the silence shouldn't fall only on survivors, it should be everyone's shared responsibility."
She further pushed for a redesign of the systems meant to protect athletes.
"This is not just about punishing perpetrators and wrongdoers. It's about building clubs, schools and reporting channels that centre on the safety and dignity of those most vulnerable."
Instead of asking survivors why they didn't speak up, we should ask why the system failed to protect them, said Onabanjo. Photo: UNFPA
UNFPA Malaysia representative and Thailand country director Dr Julitta Onabanjo offered a global perspective.
"One in three women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime," she noted. "The cost is simply too high. Sexual harassment robs athletes of their confidence, their progress and sometimes, their future."
She challenged cultural narratives that shift blame onto victims.
"Why do we ask survivors why they didn't speak up, instead of asking why the system failed to protect them?" she asked. "The myth of the 'perfect victim' must end. Survivors shouldn't need to be flawless to be believed."
In her closing address, Onabanjo emphasised the importance of rejecting rape culture and investing in prevention.
"A woman is not harassed because of what she wears," she said. "But because someone chose to harm her."
Throughout the discussion, one sentiment echoed again and again: silence is shaped by fear, power and the structures we live within. And changing that requires more than empathy – it requires action.
For Awam, UNFPA and the Youth and Sports Ministry, the goal is clear: build systems that survivors can trust. Create spaces where speaking out is not an act of bravery, but a basic right.
"Let this film inspire us. Let it move us to action. Whether you're a coach, a policymaker, or a parent, you have a role to play in making sports safer for everyone," Ho concluded.