In a statement today, she said a meeting was held in Parliament yesterday to discuss this.
Mas Ermieyati said efforts to make stalking a crime began in 2019 when an anti-stalking committee was established.
“Since early 2020, draft amendments to the law (amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code) have been prepared by the committee, led by the legal affairs division with the involvement of other government agencies and NGOs,” she added.
She noted that the policy paper, together with the proposed amendments to the law, was expected to be tabled in the Cabinet next month and the amendments will be tabled in Parliament after obtaining the approval of the Cabinet.
She said the meeting yesterday was attended by the various stakeholders, namely the women, family and community development ministry, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Bar Council, the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) and academicians.
“During the meeting, three stalking victims shared their experiences and how they were left unprotected due to gaps that exist in the laws.”
She said WAO had also submitted a memorandum signed by 52 groups and a petition supported by more than 8,500 people.
A survey by WAO last year involving 1,008 Malaysians, reported that one-third had experienced stalking that instilled fear; 17% had experienced stalking resulting in harm and 12% were stalked and threatened with harm.
It also said that more than 70% of these incidences involved victims being approached at their homes, workplaces or schools.
The survey also showed the need to expedite the process of amending the Penal Code and introducing restraining orders against stalkers under the Criminal Procedure Code as the current system had consistently failed women because it lacked protective measures against stalking.
For instance, on April 14, a woman was stabbed to death by a man believed to be her boyfriend. The victim had made numerous police reports about stalking incidents, including break-ins by the man, with the most recent occurring a month before her murder.
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