Cops Get Statemeents........

Police will record a statement on Wednesday from Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong’s former boyfriend over her nude pictures scandal, Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said.

He said police had received two nude photographs, as well as a compact disc, of the 37-year-old politician from a Malay Mail journalist, Bernama reported.

So far, police had recorded statements from two Malay Mail journalists and two other journalists from theSun in connection with the case, he told reporters at a function here.

He said police were now monitoring websites which posted the pictures.

He advised those in possession of the politician’s nude pictures to either destroy or hand them over to the police, adding that stern action would be taken against those found distributing the pictures.

On Tuesday, Wong offered to resign as an assemblyman and also Selangor executive councillor over the case but was asked to go on indefinite leave.

Service Centre open from Thursday

Meanwhile, Wong’s special assistant Chua Yee Ling said that the Bukit Lanjan service centre at BU 3/1, Bandar Utama, closed recently after the scandal broke would reopen Thursday pending the status of her resignation.

He said Wong's team would attend to issues related to her constituency.

Any other matter involving the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) would be handled by councillors Syed Abd Malik Syed A Hamid Al Jafree and Chan Chee Kong.

Police record Wong's statement

In Petaling Jaya, lawyer Derek Fernandez, who is representing Wong, said that police had recorded Wong’s statement under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Fernandez said that the police were professional and courteous during the three-hour procedure at the office of Fernandez & Selvarajah.

“The police will be carrying out further investigation. She (Wong) will take legal action in the event there’s any violation of her rights by the publication of any such photographs and/or materials.

“It is a criminal offence to be in possession or distribute any such materials and, as such, we will seek the strict enforcement of law.

The police has informed us that they will prosecute anybody who publishes such photographs,” said Fernandez.

Stricter privacy invasion laws needed

Also in Petaling Jaya, the Women Parliamentary Caucus asked the Government to enact stricter privacy laws in the wake of Wong's scandal.

Its deputy Chong Eng said the incident had greatly embarassed Wong, especially when she had been elected as a people's representative.

"There should be stricter privacy laws, not just for the Members of Parliament or assemblymen, but for everybody. Or else, how will this end?

"How can anyone feel safe, even when he or she is at home? This incident shows that everyone is in danger of being exposed although women are more vulnerable to such crimes," she told reporters at the Parliament lobby, adding that the caucus condemned the act as an "infringement of privacy."

Chong, who is also DAP MP for Bukit Mertajam, said harsh penalties should be meted out against those responsible for taking and circulating of the pictures.

"This is a form of sexual harrassment against Wong and a criminal act," she pointed out.

Chong said authorities should also look seriously into the penalties meted out against those found guilty of similar crimes as often times, the punishment only amounted to a small fine.

The caucus, which was set up last year, had members from both the women backbenchers and the Opposition.

Chong said the caucus also called on members of public, who had in their possession the nude pictures or video clips of Wong, to stop distributing these via their handphones or computers.

"They should destroy the material as a measure to protect her honour of a people's representative," she said.