KUALA LUMPUR: The government will set up a special tribunal to hear and manage sexual harassment cases in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Family and Community Development Minister, said this was part of efforts to improve the current justice system.
"It will be included in the Sexual Harassment Act which is currently being discussed by the ministry with agencies, non-governmental organisations and the Attorney General's Chambers," she told reporters after opening a mass circumcision programme in the Pandan's parliamentary constituency here today.
Dr Wan Azizah said the Sexual Harassment Bill which was supposed to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat this month would be postponed to next year.
She added the postponement was necessary as there were still some issues that need to be decided and agreed upon such as remedies, burden of proof and so on.
"All of these are important to ensure that existing legal barriers are resolved and that the bill can address this issue and provide protection for victims.
"The complaint mechanism needs to be simplified so that more victims can come forward while the remedial and penalty elements are also taken into account. The bill remains a priority of the ministry and will be tabled as soon as possible, and certainly it will be next year," she added.