Amendments to criminalise stalking re-tabled in Dewan Rakyat

 

PARLIAMENT | Amendments to criminalise stalking have been re-tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat today.

The amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) were first passed in the Dewan Rakyat last October.

However, it failed to be approved in the Dewan Negara as Parliament was dissolved shortly after, to pave the way for the 15th general election (GE15).

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said (above), who re-tabled the amendments today, said the second reading is scheduled for this sitting.

The amendments propose a new Section 507A in the Penal Code, under which an individual would be considered stalking if the person repeatedly, by any act of harassment, intends to cause, or know or ought to know, that such an act causes distress, fear or alarm to any person of their safety.

Those found to be guilty of stalking shall be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both, according to the bill.

Meanwhile, the CPC amendments seek to allow victims, their lawyers and guardians of a child or incapacitated adult to seek a court-issued protection order via an ex-parte application.

With the order, the suspected offender will be prohibited from further committing any act of stalking under Section 507A.

It would also restrain the suspected individual “from going near” the victim or any other person related to or associated with the victim at a distance the court thinks reasonable.

Failure to comply with the restraining order would be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, a fine or both. - Mkini