KUALA LUMPUR: A sexual harassment law, which is being formulated by the government, will focus on punishing those who silence reports or complaints of sexual misconduct.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said it would complement the existing Penal Code used to punish sexual harassment offenders.
She said many victims of sexual harassment had lodged reports with the authorities, but no action was taken.
“There are currently mechanisms for punishing sexual harassment offenders through the Penal Code, as well as circular clarifications on who should be reported if civil servants become victims,” she said at the Hikers Picnic in the Park programme at Taman Rimba Kiara, here, today.
“However, the issue now is who is hiding (the offenders). Many victims have reported to the authorities but there is no action. This is our focus.”
Yeoh said there was a need to expedite the formulation of a sexual harassment act following reports in the English language media on July 29 about the head of the orthopedic department of a hospital in the Klang Valley allegedly victimising a female doctorate trainee.
As for the gender equality act that the ministry was working on, she said it would include anti-discrimination elements, but local cultural practices had to be looked into first.
“There are some cultural practices in Malaysia, for example, the division of property among boys and girls.
“So, we are looking at such things and will discuss with the religious authorities about it,” she said.
Asked about a controversial development project in Taman Rimba Kiara, Yeoh said she had urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to speed up investigations on former federal territories minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan.
“The MACC should not be silent. Explain the status of investigations on Taman Rimba Kiara, Bukit Kiara and 64 land plots previously reported.
“In fact, Tengku Adnan himself always asks, ‘What’s going on in my case’ every time he meets me in Parliament,” she said.