Anti-stalking bill to be tabled this year, says deputy minister

A bill related to the crime of stalking is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin says.

She said the Anti-Stalking Bill is in the final process of being refined at the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"I will hold a briefing with MPs and senators next week about the bill.

"We will provide notification and the latest status to all relevant stakeholders. The bill is in tandem with the Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill, I will be very happy if it can be tabled this year," she told reporters after the "Wanita Bangkit" 2022 round table conference in Shah Alam yesterday.

She said the bill is expected to protect victims, especially women, from harassment in either offline or online environments.

"With the passing of this bill, many victims will dare to come forward, and this is a gift for them," she said, adding that it would give a sense of security and hope to the victims.

Mas Ermieyati said the roundtable conference had also urged for the bill to be expedited.

Meanwhile, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun said the conference had reached three resolutions involving the leadership, legal and socioeconomic clusters, adding that the resolutions will be submitted to the government to improve policies and implementation including the 2023 Budget.