The standalone law on sexual harassment is expected to be tabled for its first reading during the current sitting of the Dewan Rakyat, which will end on Dec 5.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said the Sexual Harassment Bill is expected to be tabled the earliest by the end of this month.
"If we cannot make it, then it will be brought to Parliament early next year," she told 164 female local councillors at a town hall session in Putrajaya today.
Citing a study conducted on the matter, Yeoh said sexual harassment in the country took place mostly in the universities.
"The Women's Development Department conducted an online research and obtained 8,000 feedbacks.
"Most of the feedbacks come from the universities. That means that the students and staff of our universities faced the most cases of sexual harassment.
"So we are looking at tabling the bill this year. If cannot, then early next year," Yeoh added.
Currently, there is no standalone law on sexual harassment. The offence of sexual harassment is listed under Section 509 of the Penal Code.
In 2012, the government incorporated the word "sexual harassment" into Section 2 of the Employment Act 1955.
Yeoh had said previously that a law would be formulated to address sexual harassment at the workplace.
Earlier this year, she said the proposed bill will be tabled in Parliament, after an in-depth study.
[More to follow] - Mkini
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