YOURSAY | ‘The bottom line is that Yong has been charged with rape. So, please do the decent thing.’

Paul Yong refuses to go on leave despite MB's advice

Anonymous_1527925538: Unlike previous civil cases, this is a serious criminal charge casting doubts in one’s character.

Perak exco member Paul Yong should do the honourable thing and resign until he can clear himself in court.

Otherwise, he should just be sacked because he can't even see the harm he can bring to DAP and Pakatan Harapan.

Chuen Tick: Is it the decent thing to do? Yong, of course, it is.

To step aside for the time being does not mean you are admitting guilt. You have been charged, and you will have your day in court. If you can prove your innocence, you can resume your post with your head held high.

You claim you have been framed. I am sure your lawyers will have the right defence to prove your innocence if it is really the case.

But the bottom line is that you have been charged with rape. So, yes, please do the decent thing.

Frankie: Why the need to wait for a conviction to go on leave?

Going on leave right now is the morally upright thing to do. Come back a winner when you're freed by the court. It's your chance to set an example on morality.

LD Man: The people gave their mandate for an honourable man to serve them. Not one who is accused of rape.

If you are honourable, step aside and spend time with your family. Otherwise, the menteri besar may need to relieve you of your duties, or worse still, the palace intervenes.

YTMQ: Yong, stop being silly. You could stay as assemblyperson unless there's a guilty verdict.

But as an exco member, you should resign. Period.

Tok Jangut: Yes, Yong, just go on leave. You were only voted to be an assemblyperson, not an exco.

Steven Ong: Taking leave may make people think one is guilty, while refusing to take leave may lead to ineffective service.

In such case, it’s better an assistant or a temporary stand-in serves while he remains directing from afar.

Newday: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his predecessor Najib Razak have set the standard for politicians not stepping down while an elected member is being charged.

Yong, come on and set a better standard and step down.

Do the decent thing and step aside, NGO leader tells exco

Athena: Yes, I agree with Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director Cynthia Gabriel that Yong should take leave if he is charged. And yes, one is innocent till proven guilty.

However, it looks like there are accusations that the police did not do a thorough investigation with “evidence” of framing and a RM100,000 pay-out. Police should have looked into all of this, before charging.

And as much as I respect the work Tenaganita - and what the late Tenaganita co-founder Irene Fernandez had done - Tenaganita executive director Glorene A Das should not be overzealous and make comments regarding this at this time.

Nobody is denying the rampant abuse of maids, but using Yong's case to make her point at this juncture is premature as he has not found guilty yet.

Anonymous_1543475877: C4 and Tenaganita, your unkind comments are influencing public opinion. It is disappointing.

Yong can step down from his exco position, but he can continue as an assemblyperson.

This trial will take a long time. Everyone must respect that he is innocent until proven guilty.

Proarte: Well, a senior cabinet minister has not gone on leave despite being seen in a video that has gone viral, allegedly showing him having gay sex with his partner who admitted that they were the two individuals in the recording.

So, it is not surprising that this exco feels no reason to heed the advice of his menteri besar to take leave.

Rape and gay sex are crimes under Malaysian law, but one individual has been charged but the other has the support of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and continues to enjoy all the trappings of power and immunity from prosecution.

This can only happen in Malaysia where Mahathir's "rule of law" applies.

Wayang: Under normal standard Yong should go on leave, but with these suspicious circumstances, please stay and fight, and do not become a victim of conspiracy.

Idiocracy: If Yong is innocent, he should just declare he didn't have sex with his maid, didn't molest, or even touch his maid. He should not just say he didn't rape her.

There is no such thing as consensual sex with domestic helpers especially with one who lives with you. If you did it, then it’s a problem; the moment the maid claims it’s not consensual, you're finished.

If Yong is truly innocent, he should come out and say he didn't even have sex with the maid. If he didn't have sex with the maid, obviously there isn't any rape. Make it clear to commoners.

If there is no evidence of sexual relations other than mere allegations by the maid, then Yong deserves backing. But if medical evidence suggest they had sex, then Yong deserves to be charged.

By saying he didn't rape her, he may be suggesting that it was consensual.

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