Victims of relentless stalking are in constant trauma

PETALING JAYA: Stalking victims often have to deal with constant trauma, with their only hope of relief being immediate action.

A victim who only wanted to be known as Fifah shared a traumatising incident involving an ex-employee who had harassed her for more than a year.

“I was never comfortable with him when I was pursuing my coffee business, so my partner dealt with him.

“He would often try to video-call me at night, but I never picked up the calls, and any work-related conversations were only done through text,” she said.

Fifah, 30, said it spiralled out of control after the employee quit his job in February last year without notice.

“After he left, the business continued as usual. He then called me and asked why I did not look for him after he quit, but I passed the phone to my business partner thinking the matter had been resolved.

“But the nightmare began after he started messaging me via all the social media platforms.

“He accused me of making him fall for me. I blocked him every time I saw his name on my mobile screen, but he was relentless,” she said, adding that she was even afraid to leave her home.

Fifah reported the matter to the police in August, her second police report against the man.

“We have a new law against stalking, therefore, I want him to face justice for his actions,” she added.

While the majority of victims are women, men are also subjected to the same trauma, as shared by Muhammad Fakhri Fadzli, 27, who had been stalked since 2021.

The freelance preacher shared on Twitter that a woman known as Aina had repeatedly messaged him, even visiting his office and waiting to see him to give him presents.

“Since April 2021, she has bothered me on Instagram. At first, she wanted us to get to know each other, but I rejected her nicely.

“She did not take the hint and since then, I have kept several screenshots of her delusional attitude,” he added.

He blocked her, but she would create new accounts just to reach out to him on social media.

The woman eventually managed to get his number and claimed she was trying to protect him from other girls, he said.

“One day I received an address and her father’s number telling me that they were ready to meet, as if I had agreed to marry her.

“I messaged her father and told him about the situation. Her father understood and apologised on her behalf,” he added.

The effort, however, was futile as the woman followed Muhammad Fakhri to events where he was the guest preacher.

In the end, he lodged a police report as a precautionary measure.

He, however, said the experience had left him traumatised, scared, and anxious.