PUTRAJAYA: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will enforce the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 in phases starting today.
It involves Section 1 (short title and commencement); Section 2 (interpretation); Section 24 (administrator); Section 25 (functions and powers of administrator); and, Section 26 (power to make regulations).
In a statement, the ministry said the enforcement of the act involves the definition of sexual harassment, elements of awareness and prevention of sexual harassment in the community.
"It takes into account the importance of educating the people and increasing their understanding and awareness of the seriousness of issues involving sexual harassment before this act is fully enforced," it said.
The ministry said the act reflected the government's concern and serious commitment to addressing and eliminating gender-based discrimination, especially sexual harassment.
"When the understanding and awareness of sexual harassment and its effects on victims can be enhanced in the community, it directly helps towards providing a safe environment.
"This is to empower people in the economic, social and political spheres, in addition to ensuring that they are not marginalised in the country's development to achieve the Malaysia Madani aspirations," the statement read.
The act was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on July 20, 2022, and subsequently in the Dewan Negara on Aug 11, 2022.
It was gazetted as a new law on Oct 18 last year after receiving the royal assent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. — Bernama