Minister provides data on sexual harassment at the workplace in Malaysia

Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh has revealed statistics on sexual harassment in Malaysia's workplaces, Bernama reported.

Minister Yeoh said data from the Royal Malaysian Police revealed 1,218 cases of sexual harassment at the workplace from 2013 to 2017. Of these cases, 1,187 were still under investigation and 31 individuals had been charged under Section 509 of the Penal Code.

She shared this following the official opening of a "Sexual Harassment At Workplace" seminar at the Northern Region Institute of Public Administration yesterday (14 February).

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Bernama also reported that Minister Yeoh believes there are still cases yet to be reported, due to factors such as the lengthy investigation process and the "mechanism in lodging a report".

She said: "At the ministry, we are now awaiting the results of an impact study which will serve as a guideline in drawing up the Sexual Harassment Act and in improving the existing regulations."

"The act will also focus on penalising those not acting on the sexual harassment report or complaint made, shortening the standard operating procedure SOP during the investigation, and improving the mechanism to ease lodging a report for the victim."