Local YouTuber Harassed Former Miss Universe Malaysia Runner-Up & Asked For '2 Seconds'
Lim Shang Jin has since apologised for sexually harassing Serene Claire.
Former Miss Universe Malaysia runner-up Serene Claire was sexually harassed by local YouTuber Lim Shang Jin at a party. The encounter has left the victim traumatised.
In an Instagram post last Friday, 23 September, Serene revealed that she wanted to share her experience as these incidents tend to be brushed away as if they did not happen.
"The situation went like this. I have known this acquaintance through a mutual friend," she began without naming Lim.
"Last night, when I [bumped] into him at the party, I got him water as I thought he [seemed] pretty drunk (and to make) sure he was alright."
Serene gave him her phone number when he asked for it, before he suddenly kissed her on her cheek and asked for a selfie.
The selfie believed to be taken when Lim was drunk with Serene.
Image via @sereneclaire_ (Instagram)
"A bit of a bold move. I did not consent to that, but I brushed it off, thinking maybe he was open-minded," she continued
The model-actress also gave him the benefit of the doubt when he invited her to his private house, thinking maybe he merely had too much to drink.
"He touched me shortly after that. He was so drunk, I thought maybe it was unintentional!" she recounted.
"He asked me not to worry because it was just two seconds. Nobody's gonna know and see it."
Image via Serene Claire 蔡永彬 (Facebook)
"I was completely [shocked] and I did not know how to react. I yelled at him and I wanted to leave," she said
"I cried, I was so disgusted, I felt so violated. How could he do this to me?"
Serene said Lim did not apologise and his friends advised her to avoid him next time. The comment infuriated her as it suggested that they were condoning his actions.
She said she should have slapped him but she did not know how to react at that moment.
"We never know how to react when someone [molests] us because we never expected the person to do this. We trusted that person, but that harasser took advantage of that trust," she added.
In an update, she told her followers that she had already done what she thought was best for her and that she would not be filing a police report on the case as the law would protect him because it was a small matter when compared to other experiences many victims faced.
"It is pathetic to say, but the only thing I can do as a woman to assert my power and gain back my dignity is to share it on my socials," she said, encouraging more women to band together and stand up for themselves.
Image via @limshangjin (Instagram)
After the public post, Lim admitted that he was the person who harassed Serene and apologised to her
In an Instagram Story over the weekend, Lim named Serene and apologised to her for harassing her in front of other people, acknowledging that his actions had traumatised her.
"I feel very guilty and shameful for my rude behaviour when I was drunk. I should know that I have poor alcohol tolerance and that I should not have drunk in public when I knew I would lose my senses," he said.
With that said, he proceeded to promote a beauty academy in a separate Instagram Story, rationalising that "I have bad alcohol tolerance, but my character is not too bad".
Image via @limshangjin (Instagram)
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: telenita@awam.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: wcc@wccpenang.org
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: sarswws@gmail.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: sawo.women@yahoo.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: protect@psthechildren.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
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