The Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal is awaiting final approval from the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), according to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, the Women, Family and Community Development Minister. The ministry has already submitted a complete list of the names of the tribunal members. Nancy emphasized the need to refer to the AGC because the members are lawyers who will make the decisions at the tribunal, which handles civil cases. She expects the tribunal to be established by the end of the year.
Nancy and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek recently participated in the Malaysian Social Institute (ISM) Social Talk Series 7, held in conjunction with the National Women’s Day celebration on Aug 25. Nancy spoke about “From Women to Women” during her talk, while Fadhlina focused on ‘Women and Education, Leading Change”. Both leaders shared their experiences of facing sexism and constant questioning about their roles as mothers and wives. Despite the challenges, they remain determined to fulfill their responsibilities and highlighted the importance of women supporting each other to create a well-balanced society.
The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (Act 840) was gazetted last year on Oct 18 after obtaining consent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Oct 8. The tribunal is a crucial component of the Act, which passed Parliament in August and was gazetted in October. It will handle sexual harassment complaints and provide a means for victims to seek redress. The tribunal must consist of at least five members with judicial or legal experience.
Although the tribunal has yet to be established, the ministry announced that certain sections of the Act have come into force. These include Section 1 – Simple Titles and Commencement; (ii) Section 2 – Interpretation; (iii) Section 24 – Administrator; (iv) Section 25 – Functions and powers of the administrator; and (v) Section 26 – Power to make regulations.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
