Issues: ‘Legislator reports doctor for harassment’

March 11, p. 28

Actress and women’s rights activist-turned-legislator Rieke Dyah Pitaloka on Tuesday reported a South Sulawesi doctor for alleged sexual harassment.
The member of the House of Representatives, who is a seasoned human rights activist and renowned feminist, reported Rasyidin to the West South Sulawesi Police in Makassar for allegedly attempting to kiss her.
Rieke, who played the naïve Oneng in the situation comedy Bajaj Bajuri, said the incident occurred when she was visiting nurses and hospital staff at the Labuang Baji General Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
“At first he only asked for a picture. But, on the second take, he held my shoulder as if he wanted to hug me. When I reprimanded him, the doctor whispered in my ear and asked for a kiss. Even his lips were already on my ears,” she said, as quoted by Antara.
Rieke then had a quarrel with the doctor, who offered her an apology. However, Rieke still wanted to “teach him a lesson and drag him through the legal process”.
“When I became upset, he said, ‘You’re a public figure so you don’t have to be angry’,” Rieke said.

Your comments:
That’s really embarrassingly; it should make us embrace ethics and etiquette. Let the legal system prove who is at fault here.
La Tawaro
United Kingdom

It’s harassment. Harassment doesn’t necessarily have to be the touching of private parts. Simple sentences can be considered sexual harassment. As a doctor one should mind one’s words and actions. Be professional, or maybe he’s forgotten the meaning of that word.
Ershad
Jakarta

It’s arrogance. She just wanted to show the public that she was powerful. Many legislators at the House of Representatives should have stayed in their first jobs, because they’re incapable of becoming legislator — they just show up, sit, laugh and scream.
Amri Munthe
Jakarta

What sexual harassment? Did he touch your private parts? Did he ask for any sexual favors? No, he didn’t. He’s just an obsessed fan of yours who tried to give you a kiss.
He even asked your permission. So there shouldn’t be talk of any sexual harassment. Why burden the judicial system with such a small and unimportant incident?
I guess it gives you publicity and puts you in the limelight. You want to teach him a lesson?
Why don’t you teach the government a lesson on good governance — after all, that’s your job, that’s what you’re being paid for, not to harass a small-town doctor.
I.J. Hamsanudin
Jakarta

Trying to get attention? I can’t imagine anybody so hard up that they’d be attracted to Ibu Rieke, even an overworked doctor in Makassar!
Jose Dinoy
Jakarta