PARLIAMENT | A motion of appeal has been submitted for the attention of Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun on a new anti-sexual harassment law targeted for tabling in Parliament at the next sitting beginning in March next year.
Kasthuri Patto (Pakatan Harapan-Batu Kawan) said the petition under Standing Order 19 is an appeal from 512 Malaysians calling for the Dewan Rakyat to debate the matter.
"They want the House to take note that one out of every three Malaysian women, compared to one out every six men, are facing sexual harassment, and there is a serious weakness in existing laws to tackle the issue.
"Due to weakness of the law, the victim is prevented from seeking justice and the perpetrator is spared from action," Kasthuri said.
"Therefore, I would like to put forward a motion to propose for this appeal to be read.
"I seek for this motion to be decided by the speaker at an appropriate date so that it can be tabled and debated in the next session," she added.
Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) later stood up to support Kasthuri's motion.
"I seek to state my support for Batu Kawan's statement on a new Act to address the crime of sexual harassment in the next Dewan Rakyat session.
"This is a good thing that cuts across the political divide," he said.
Kasthuri further said any new law or improvements to existing provisions related to sexual crimes should take into consideration four main grounds.
This includes a clearer and more comprehensive definition of sexual harassment to protect victims against visual, online, verbal and physical forms of the crime.
"Sexual harassment crimes must be decided on the principles of balanced probability that is more humane," said the DAP lawmaker.
Kasthuri said sexual harassment victims should also be assisted to seek justice with minimal costs, through a special tribunal set up for the purpose.
Overall, she said, 17,500 Malaysians had signed their support for the new law to be debated.
Azhar confirmed receiving the motion and petition, and he promised to provide a written response.
"I am now considering the petition and I would also like to state that the issue about this new law has been asked and answered by the minister," he said in reference to Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun.
"I also have a written response on the explanation given by the minister, which I will present to the two of you later.
"I will evaluate this petition to see whether it follows the rule or otherwise, and I will also give an answer," Azhar said.
Kasthuri, along with two other women DAP MPs, had last week taken Rina to task for her unsatisfactory answers on issues they raised during the ministry's committee stage budget debate.
Kasthuri had questioned the ministry's commitment to table the Sexual Harassment Bill, first mooted during Harapan's administration, as Rina previously said it was expected to be debated in this current session, which ends today. - Mkini
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