Pakatan Harapan MPs are calling for the expedition of legislation to deal with sexual harassment amid mounting complaints of such instances in the public sector.
DAP's Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (above) pointed out that just two days after the Health Ministry set up an internal e-mail for sexual harassment complaints, more than 30 had come in.
"The ministry received a substantial amount of complaints, they are still counting.
"This is something very serious which shows that it is not isolated cases.
"I have approached some of the complainants and my colleagues and I have agreed to provide them with legal service," he told a press conference at the Parliament building's lobby today.
Ramkarpal said the claims of sexual harassment did not only happen in the Health Ministry but also at other ministries and agencies with some cases already with the police.
"Some of the victims in the health ministry are afraid to stand up in public as they worried about the repercussions of coming out.
"Junior officers worry about the future of their careers. We promised to protect them as much as we could, we will do our best to ensure the safety of the complainants or victims," he said.
The dedicated e-mail by the Health Ministry for its staff was set up on July 30 after The Star reported on a sexual harassment case by a senior doctor at a public hospital against a houseman.
In longhouses, too
Also present at the press conference was PKR's Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar who stressed the need to expedite legislation on sexual harassment prevention at the workplace.
"We have met with many lawyers who have prepared a proposed bill and the necessary amendments that require Parliament's approval.
"I am also glad that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry yesterday announced their readiness to strengthen the laws to ensure both women and men receive the necessary protection from sexual harassment," she said.
Echoing this was DAP's Sibu MP Alice Lau (above) who said such a law was needed due to prevalent sexual harassment cases particularly at longhouses in Sarawak.
Meanwhile, PKR's Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdulah pointed out that women's groups have also drafted a sexual harassment prevention bill.
She stressed the law was not only for prosecution but also was to help build a mechanism to prevent sexual harassment and to provide support to victims. - Mkini
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