KR Youth has demanded that the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry update the public on the status of the Sexual Harassment Bill and offer a timeline for its completion.
In a statement today, PKR Youth chief Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir (above) said work on enacting such a law had taken more than 20 years and should not be delayed further.
“Rina Harun, as the minister in charge of this bill, must clarify the status of the efforts to enact such a law and provide a deadline for its enactment,” said Akmal, who is also the Johor Bahru MP.
In February, following an outcry from women who were harassed by police personnel at movement control order (MCO) roadblocks, Rina claimed that the draft bill was in the “final stages”.
She said that the bill will be tabled in Parliament once it is in session again in August. However, with new Covid-19 cases and fatalities steadily rising since March, there is no certainty when Parliament can convene.
PKR Youth’s statement comes as several national swimmers told Malaysiakini that they have been subject to sexual harassment and assault.
Akmal said the accounts by national swimmers will no doubt bring great shame to the country internationally.
“Therefore, this revelation demands proactive action from the related ministries in ensuring that the allegations are investigated because surely, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
In a separate development, former deputy youth and sports minister Steven Sim urged the Youth and Sports Ministry to include tackling sexual abuse and harassment as part of the National Sports Vision 2030.
“I also hope that a committee to address sexual abuse and harassment is empowered further,” said the Bukit Mertajam MP.
Sim said that the previous Pakatan Harapan administration had formed the committee, headed by Low Beng Choo, which included several women national athletes. - Mkini
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