THE Anti-Sexual Harassment Bill will be discussed at the first meeting of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender and Equality Rights after Chinese New Year.

Committee chairman Nor Azrina Surip said it has selected six new members and will meet on February 8.

“We will discuss sexual harassment and the laws related to it, and we hope the said laws will materialise soon,” she told reporters after the launch of a report titled “The Status of Women’s Human Rights: 24 Years of CEDAW in Malaysia” in Kuala Lumpur today.

Nor Azrina, who is also Merbok MP, said parliamentarians have made progress on the proposed Gender Equality Act.

“There is progress, and we have been engaging experienced civil groups, such as the Women’s Action Organisation and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia.

“Things are looking bright.”

Previously, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said Putrajaya was working to introduce legislation against sexual harassment at the workplace.

The Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IoJ) voiced support for the effort after business radio station BFM 89.9 said it had investigated claims of sexual harassment at the workplace, following an anonymous email alleging the matter sent to media outlets last month.

IoJ said such claims underscore the “urgent need” for laws to reduce, if not eliminate, sexual harassment at the workplace.

“This points to a much larger problem facing the media industry, where many victims, mostly women, dare not speak up, for fear of retribution or public attacks for standing up for their rights.

“While companies may have internal reporting policies on paper, the fact that a person felt the need to write about her plight, and that of other alleged victims, in an anonymous letter to news outlets is very worrying.” – January 23, 2019.