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West Australian
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Wundig Wer Wilura In Concert: West Australian Opera to bring second Noongar-language opera to Bunbury
The West Australian Opera will bring the second ever Noongar-language opera to the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre in November, written by powerhouse duo Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse. Wundig Wer Wilura In Concert is a portrayal of an ancient Ballardong Noongar story passed down for thousands of generations, of two star-crossed lovers, now known as Mt Bakewell (Walwalling) and Mt Brown (Wongborel) in York, WA. The pair break the bounds of lore and customs in an exploration of family, connection to country, obligation and rebellion, adoration and betrayal, and love and war. The story ultimately asks, 'in the face of catastrophic consequences, how far would you go for love?' The adaption, written by critically acclaimed songwriters and storytellers Williams and Ghouse, follows the success of their celebrated first Noongar language opera, Koolbardi We Wardong, which came to BREC in 2023 with three sold-out shows. Their second opera — which premiered in the 2024 Perth Festival and York Festival — stars an all First Nations cast and is sung entirely in Noongar language with English subtitles, celebrating Aboriginal culture through contemporary music, stunning vocals and rich storytelling. A big cast of principals from the premiere will be heading to the South West, including Williams in a lead role. BREC executive director Fiona de Garis said she was blown away by the power and emotion of the performance in Perth and was delighted when the WAO inquired about bringing the show to Bunbury. 'This semi-staged concert production is a wonderful concept that will allow our community to experience a world-class show with full costumes, lighting and an extraordinary backdrop along with the music and story. 'I am proud of the strong relationship we have built with West Australian Opera and with Gina Williams and Guy Ghouse that led them to offer this opportunity to us.' The WAO will present two concerts in Bunbury on November 7 with a combined schools and general public viewing at 11am and an evening performance with allocated seating at 7.30pm. The opera will also head to Albany on November 5. Director Matt Reuben James Ward said, 'it was an honour to support the telling of this West Australian story with new audiences in the South West and in particular in my hometown of Albany'. WAO executive director Carolyn Chard AM said they were 'deeply passionate about the powerful stories opera tells'. 'When Wundig Wer Wilura played in last year's Perth Festival, we saw how strongly it resonated with audiences and knew we had to share this beautiful story with wider audiences,' she said.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Criminologist calls for new laws to curb AI porn
GEORGE TOWN: New laws and mechanisms are needed to curb the spread of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated pornography, said a criminalogist. Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy, from Universiti Sains Malaysia's Centre for Policy Research , warned that such content posed serious risks to the mental health of victims, especially minors. "The law is playing catch-up while technology is sprinting ahead," he said. "In the meantime, our youths are exposed, our victims are silenced, and our justice system is ill-equipped," he told the New Straits Times. He said the Penal Code was not designed for a world where "anyone with a smartphone can destroy a person's reputation in minutes". "The fact that a teenager could so easily exploit his peers using off-the-shelf technology should terrify us," he said. Sundramoorthy was referring to the arrest of a 16-year-old private school student in Johor for allegedly using AI to edit and sell lewd images of his female classmates. He is being investigated under Section 292 of the Penal Code for selling and distributing obscene material and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities. Sundramoorthy said Malaysia needed laws that reflected the realities of digital abuse and empower ed victims with protection and redress. "Victims often suffer twice. Once from the abuse itself, and again when society shames them into silence. This mirrors the trauma of sexual assault, where victims are blamed instead of supported." He called for legislation that defines and criminalises AI-generated and deepfake pornography, and for fast-track content removal mechanisms on social media. "This could be similar to the 'Take it Down' Act in the United States," he said. "The time for reform is now. Not after another teenager is victimised, not after another viral scandal." Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) advocacy officer Tamyra Selvarajan said Malaysia's reactive legal framework failed to address the long-term psychological and reputational harm faced by survivors. "Our laws are growing, but they are still largely punitive, not preventive or restorative," she said. "There is no equivalent of the 'Take it Down' Act here. Survivors are often left waiting, reporting to authorities while harmful content remains live and circulating." Tamyra said survivors, particularly women and minors, often navigated a confusing legal and enforcement maze, with no clarity on which agency held jurisdiction. "The problem is far from theoretical," she said. Tamyra said WAO handled a case this year involving a woman victimised by AI-generated porn. In another case documented by the All Women's Action Society (Awam) Telenita Helpline, a man was blackmailed with intimate videos recorded during a video call. Tamyra said these cases highlighted key system gaps: no centralised reporting platform, no mandated takedown timelines and no survivor-centred support services. She urged the government to consider a law akin to the US "Take it Down" Act, noting that existing Malaysian legislation, including the Penal Code, Communications and Multimedia Act, Anti-Sexual Harassment Act and the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, were not designed for the era of AI and deepfakes. "If a country like the US, often criticised for its fragmented approach to tech regulation, can pass a federal law within months, Malaysia must at least begin with serious intent. "What we're asking for is not censorship, it's dignity, safety, and justice," she said
The Star
08-05-2025
- The Star
Online campaign sheds light on sexual grooming in Malaysia
In a recent Instagram post, Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) brought fresh attention to a deeply troubling issue that continues to plague many societies: sexual grooming. The post, which is part of a social media campaign, was prompted by the tragic death of Korean actress Kim Sae-Ron, 24, whose past relationship with K-pop star Kim Soo-Hyun, 37, is now under renewed scrutiny. Kim was reportedly groomed by Soo-Hyun from the young age of 15 – a disturbing but not uncommon pattern, as WAO reminded Malaysians. Sexual grooming is a method of manipulation that predators use to exploit and abuse minors, often while flying under the radar. It's subtle, calculated, and extremely dangerous – and worse, it is often misunderstood or dismissed altogether. The perpetrator usually tries to gain the trust of the young person and makes them feel special or loved, with the aim of sexually exploiting them later. Grooming is not an act of sudden violence or overt threat. It is, by nature, insidious. Groomers manipulate a child or vulnerable person through emotional control, gaining trust before exploiting them sexually or psychologically. It can be hard to detect because it often appears as affection, mentorship or friendship, says WAO. The process typically follows five stages: target selection (identifying a vulnerable victim); gaining trust (befriending the child or their family); building emotional dependence (making the victim feel special or loved); desensitisation and isolation (introducing inappropriate topics or behaviour and cutting off other influences); exploitation and control (initiating abuse and ensuring silence through fear, guilt or shame). Groomers could be anyone – a family friend, religious leader, teacher or even a potential romantic partner. While global headlines may focus on celebrities, the issue is disturbingly close to home. Malaysia has seen its fair share of cases where the offence was overlooked, even defended, says WAO. Take the case of a Dublin-based child psychiatrist who groomed and abused a teenage girl with mental health struggles, offering her therapy in exchange for sexual access. According to an Irish Times report in December 2024, Amirul Arif Mohd Yunos was sentenced to eight years and six months' jail. But WAO says that despite his conviction, some people stood by him, offering glowing testimonials. "This kind of support contributes to a culture where victims are silenced and abusers shielded," WAO adds. "Equally troubling is the case of Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, who was convicted in Britain in 2015 for possessing over 30,000 images of child pornography. Because Malaysia's child sex offender registry was only established in 2017, his name was never included. He went on to study and teach – a chilling example of how the system has failed." WAO points to the normalisation of grooming in Malaysian society. "In another instance, a man (bus driver) known online as 'Abang Bas' posted a video on TikTok (in September 2024) about a nine-year-old schoolgirl on his bus, calling her his 'crush' with a heart emoji. Despite the inappropriateness, some netizens defended him – a stark sign of how society trivialises such behaviour," adds WAO. Globally, grooming is also masked as romantic relationships. Hollywood celebrities like Demi Lovato and Henry Cavill have spoken of or been scrutinised for relationships with significant age gaps that began when one partner was a teenager. Lovato has since described these relationships as "gross" and symptomatic of her "daddy issues" – shedding light on how manipulation can be misinterpreted as love. Why groomers prefer the young At the core of grooming is the desire to control, says WAO. "Men like Andrew Tate, a controversial online figure, publicly state their preference for young women ... when what they really mean is these young women are easier to manipulate. The law may say 18 is the legal age, but the line is often pushed further back through grooming." "The idea of young girls being pure and naive is used as a justification for men to prey on them. The problem isn't just with individual predators. Often, it's with the systems and social attitudes that protect them," cautions WAO. "This is a form of gender-based violence," it says. "Don't be afraid to speak up. And know that it's never the victim's fault." WAO urges anyone who suspects grooming to contact their hotline to seek support. More info: (WAO website) or @womensaidorg (Instagram)
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- New Straits Times
NGOs call for stronger survivor-centric support for domestic abuse victims
In this final part of a series on domestic violence, NAJIHAH BORHAN speaks to organisations helping survivors and the brother of a victim of domestic violence KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) want the government to strengthen survivor-centric responses across the board to ensure that survivors of domestic abuse receive consistent protection and support. Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) advocacy officer Tamyra Selvarajan said existing frameworks were still inadequate to effectively address and assist survivors of domestic violence and intimate partner violence (IPV). She said Malaysian laws must also be more comprehensive in addressing the full spectrum of abuse, including emotional, psychological and sexual abuse within marriages. Citing Section 375 of the Penal Code on rape, she said any man who is legally married to a woman and forces sexual intercourse on her is not by law considered to have raped her. "Implementing (a change in) legislation (to make rape an offence in marriage would) reinforces the idea that the survivor is never at fault and that all forms of abuse should be taken seriously," she said. Section 375 of the Penal Code defines rape as a man having sexual intercourse with a woman against her will or without her consent, but does not include wives. The code, however, does offer some protection to wives as Section 375A makes it an offence for a husband to hurt or cause his wife to fear death in order to have sexual intercourse. However, Tamyra said abuse affected not only married couples but also intimate partners, referring to both current and former spouses and dating partners where abuse or aggression occurred in a romantic relationship. "The Domestic Violence Act does protect women who are abused by their married partners, as well as protection within families. "However, the Act does not encompass those who are victims of IPV, which impacts unmarried couples. (This is) why it needs to be included in the existing Act," she said. Tamyra said while there were other laws that offered some protection to unmarried individuals facing abuse, these measures were not sufficient. She added that sometimes the justice system failed survivors, with some police reports resulting in cases being classified as "No Further Action" (NFA). When this happens, WAO works with survivors to explore other options, including legal avenues to obtain interim protection orders or appealing case classifications to the authorities. "However, it is not just the responsibility of NGOs like WAO to support survivors of violence. There must be strengthened survivor-centric responses across the entire justice system to ensure we do right by survivors," said Tamyra. She also highlighted inconsistencies in the way support services were implemented, citing WAO's experience in managing cases and findings from a 2025 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report. According to the report, a lack of clarity and inconsistent application of standard operating procedures (SOPs) at one-stop crisis centres in hospitals severely hampers survivors' access to crucial services. "So, the SOPs exist, but whether they are adhered to and how they are implemented in each hospital varies. "This can have a serious detrimental impact on survivors who, in times of crisis, require predictability and consistency in accessing such services." A WAO survey found that about a third of Malaysians still blame women for the violence they experience. Tamyra also pointed out the urgent need for additional support systems for survivors, such as more safe spaces, shelters and socioeconomic empowerment initiatives. While WAO operates a shelter that provides holistic support and empowerment to survivors, she stressed that it should not be left solely to NGOs to provide such services. "For example, WAO has a shelter that provides support and empowerment to survivors. Existing governmental services should also be improved to accommodate survivors better. "Shelters that are established by (the Social Welfare Department) often do not provide adequate support for survivors of domestic violence and IPV. "Not only that, but there is also a lack of support for survivors of IPV and marital rape. There needs to be improved support for survivors." Ooi Say Tee, the manager of the Women's Service Centre — a smart partnership between Women's Centre for Change and the Penang government — said victims of domestic abuse not only suffered immediate threats to their safety, but also endured long-term trauma and systemic gaps in protection. "In the short term, victims of domestic abuse often face immediate threats to their safety, such as having no safe place to stay, sustaining injuries, experiencing fear and being in life-threatening situations. "In the long term, the impact can be even more devastating, including mental health issues like depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, as well as the continued lack of a safe home," she said. Commenting on existing laws, Ooi said current punishments for domestic abuse offences remained inadequate. She said under Section 323 of the Penal Code, whoever voluntarily causes hurt would be punished with imprisonment for up to a year, or a fine of up to RM2,000, or both. Section 323 applies to those who intentionally cause harm to another person, but does not necessarily involve the use of weapons or the causing of grievous hurt. "The punishment is very light and does not reflect the severity of the harm caused by domestic violence. "Because of this, some victims may choose not to pursue the case in court because of the hassle they have to go through and yet the punishment is not comparable to the impact they have suffered," said Ooi.
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Vinmec Recognized As Vietnam's First Allergy & Clinical Immunology Center of Excellence
HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 April 2025 - The Center of Allergy and Clinical Immunology under the Vinmec Healthcare System has officially been chosen as a World Allergy Organization (WAO) Center of Excellence (CoE) — making it the first medical facility in Vietnam to receive this prestigious recognition. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the nation's allergy and clinical immunology, aligning Vietnamese healthcare with international standards. Vinmec Times City's Immunology – Allergy Center named WAO Center of Excellence WAO is a preeminent medical institution in the field of allergy and clinical immunology, comprising 115 national and regional member societies across six continents. The WAO COE are distinguished medical facilities recognized for their outstanding achievements in medical practices, education, research, innovation, and international influences. Following a rigorous multi-stage assessment process — including credentials review, scientific evidence review, and examination of on-site operational capability — Vinmec's Allergy and Clinical Immunology Center met WAO's stringent criteria to earn the COE designation. This international recognition not only affirms Vinmec's expertise in the field but also grants the Center prioritized access to international research collaborations, advanced training and clinical trials, and state-of-the-art treatment modalities through WAO and its global network of leading academic partners. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh, Director of the Clinical Allergy and Immunology Center at Vinmec, commented: 'Being recognized as a WAO Center of Excellence is a landmark achievement for Vietnam's allergy and clinical immunology. This recognition enables our clinicians and researchers to gain a better understanding of advancements in allergic diagnosis and treatment, participate in research collaborations, and have access to advanced therapies of the world. It also gives our health professionals an opportunity to receive training and capacity building by world-renowned experts, thus delivering the most optimized and personalized treatments that ensure the safety of patients'. Prior to the CoE recognition by WAO, Vinmec's Allergy and Clinical Immunology Center had been the first medical facility in Vietnam to receive dual recognitions in specialized allergy care, including: ADCARE (Atopic Dermatitis Centers of Reference and Excellence) and UCARE (Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence). Vinmec's Allergy and Clinical Immunology Center is also the first and only healthcare provider in Vietnam licensed by the Ministry of Health to deploy biologic therapies and advanced immunological treatments for severe chronic allergic and immunological disorders — such as bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, chronic urticaria, allergic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and prurigo nodularis. Vietnam joins the WAO Centers of Excellence global map Vinmec is currently at the forefront of utilizing genetic testing to screen for drug hypersensitivity risks — thereby personalizing the clinical pathway and enhancing patient safety — and applying monoclonal antibody therapies, a cutting-edge and specialized treatment modality typically available only at leading international medical institutions. Additionally, Vinmec has developed comprehensive diagnostic and management protocols for primary immunodeficiency disorders, offering patients early detection, appropriate intervention, and long-term care. Vinmec now stands among other prestigious WAO Centers of Excellence in the region, including the National University of Singapore, Yonsei University College of Medicine (South Korea), University of Tokyo Hospital (Japan), and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine (China). The WAO's recognition follows Vinmec's previous establishment of three internationally accredited Centers of Excellence in Cardiology, Oncology, and Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. These achievements reflect Vinmec's strategic commitment to building globally recognized centers of excellence that deliver innovative, world-class healthcare solutions to Vietnamese and international patients alike. Hashtag: #Vinmec The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
