A fearless advocate
The bold lawyer goes all out and refuses to back down.
EARLY this month, Siti Zabedah Kasim posted a rather endearing video on Facebook of orang asli families from the Pos Tohoi tragedy.
They had come to KL from their village in Kelantan. And the video she uploaded was of them getting on an escalator for the very first time.
Some were excited, some took it in their stride. Others, especially the children, were a bit hesitant and nervous. And Siti was there shouting words of encouragement, delighted to be sharing in their new experience.
All in all, 2016 has been quite a year for the lawyer and activist.
She’s been fighting for orang asli rights, taking on human rights issues including standing up for the transgender community for some time now.
Early this year, she had a shouting match with JAWI (Federal Territories Islamic Department) at a five star hotel when they raided a dinner of the transgender community.
Siti, who was an invited guest demanded they produce a warrant. They had none and arrested her instead. She has since filed a suit against the authorities for that arrest.
But it was on Sept 5 when the fearless 52-year old ‘shot to fame’.
During a forum on a PAS private member’s motion to amend a syariah law (RUU355) to expand the powers of the Syariah Court, Siti stood up to speak against the amendments and supporters of the amendments tried to heckle her down.
But she was having none of that. She responded in what is now a typical Siti Kasim way. She showed them her middle finger!
The video of her doing that went viral of course. So people recognise her these days wherever she is. And they are always stopping her to take selfies with her.
“This year has been a roller coaster. The things that has happened to me after the middle finger incident has been unprecedented.
“Suddenly everyone started to get to know me. I am grateful for that incident because it raises awareness on issues like the orang asli struggle, human rights and the creeping Islamisation of the country, which are things that I had been advocating for some time,” she said in a phone interview.
For her, 2016 has been a good year.
She managed to set up her own law firm with a partner “who is an angel who takes care of a lot of things.”
“Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do what I am doing.”
And this month, she contested and got elected into the Bar Council.
She says she only stood because she was nominated by three people, two of whom she did not even know.
“The other was the husband of a friend. I sat on it for a week thinking whether I should or shouldn’t go for it because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to get involved in the Bar Council.
“I asked a good friend for his opinion and he said ‘the worst thing that can happen is that you don’t get elected’, which isn’t a problem. So I said ‘Okay I’ll go for it.’ ”
Other than her activism, Siti who says she cannot stand any kind of oppression, shows up for a host of different things.
During the ‘Free Maria’ Women’s Walk to Parliament not too long ago, she was getting stopped all the time for photos.
“I welcome and appreciate the support. But I can understand why people who are well known avoid public space.
“I enjoy my private space. But I don’t mind sacrificing my privacy if it helps highlight issues like the plight of the orang asli. Because that is what is more important.”
In late November, when the Kelantan authorities moved in to break down the orang asli erected barricades at Pos Petei and Pos Bihai so that logging activities could continue, Siti rushed over there.
She was furious when they arrested and handcuffed the 34 Temiar activists who were trying to protect their land.
Using Facebook, she updated the public on the latest developments there until the activists were freed. That got her into PAS’ bad books – not that she cares.
PAS Youth has lodged a number of police reports against Siti, alleging that she is the “main instigator” of the activists who are fighting against logging in their area.
Defiant, Siti who read law at Queen Mary University of London, vows to fight them all the way.
So what does this mother of a 25-year-old do to relax?
“I like my own company. I am a solitary sort of person. I like to go watch a movie on my own. Sometimes I don’t even remember what I watched if I am too tired and fall asleep.”
Her all-time favourite is The Lord of the Rings series. She also loves science fiction and all the Star Wars movies.
“I like cartoons too as long as it has a good story line and good animation.”
And sometimes when Siti has a free weekend, she catches up on housework, cleaning the house, doing the laundry and making the bed!
Now that Siti has become a public figure, would she contest in the general election?
“No way! Never! I can never be a politician. I can’t toe the line. Any politician in this country must toe the party line.
“I have coloured my hair blond. I am unorthodox. I don’t comply with their vision of what a Malay is. I am proud of myself and the way I am. And I will be the way I am,” said Siti who gets disillusioned with politicians on both sides.