Resources

Resources 

Sexual Harassment Laws in Malaysia 

  • The Penal Code 

Word of Gesture intended to insult the modesty of a person

Whoever, intending to insult the modesty of any person, utters any word, makes any sound or gesture, or exhibits any object, intending that such word or sound shall be heard, or that such gesture or object shall be seen by such person, or intrudes upon the privacy of such person, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both. 

Section 509 of the Penal Code (Act 576): 

  • Communications and Multimedia Act (for online harassment) 

Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588)

Improper use of network facilities or network service, etc

A person who – 

  1. By means of any network facilities or network service or applications service knowingly – 

(i) makes, creates or solicitors and; 

(ii) initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion or communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person; or

  1. Initiates a communication using any applications service, whether continuously, repeatedly or otherwise during which communication may or may not ensure, with or without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address,

 commits an offence. 

Section 233(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act states that:

A person who commits an offence under this section shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both and shall also be liable to a further fine of one thousand ringgit for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction. 

  • Employment Act (for sexual harassment that occurs at the workplace) 

Part XVA of the Employment Act 1955 (Act 265) covers sexual harassment (Sections 81A to 81G) and provides employers with a guideline on the inquiry process when a sexual harassment complaint is lodged and also the the ramifications for the Employer who fails to conduct such an inquiry. 

Notably, Section 81G states that:

Notwithstanding paragraph 1 of the First Schedule, this Part extends to every employee employed under a contract of service irrespective of the wages of the employee. 

As such, this makes it clear that all employees are protected under Part XVA of the Employment Act 1955. 

  • Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (1999)

This Code of Practice was introduced by the Ministry of Human Resources in 1999 as a way to provide suggestions and guidelines which can be adopted by Employers to prevent and eradicate sexual harassment at the workplace. 

The Code of Practice provides suggestions on (amongst others): –

  1. Meaning of Sexual Harassment
  2. Forms of Sexual Harassment
  3. Outlines of In-House Mechanism to Combat Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
  4. Policy Statement Prohibiting Sexual Harassment 
  5. Complaint/Grievance Procedure
  6. Disciplinary rules and penalties
  7. Protective and Remedial Measures for the Victim
  • Public Service Department Circular 2018

This Circular applies to civil servants in the Country and provides a more comprehensive and in depth guideline on how to deal with sexual harassment at the workplace. 

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)

All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)
85, Jalan 21/1, Sea Park, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7877 4221
Fax: 03-7874 3312
Email: awam@awam.org.my
Website: www.awam.org.my

Association of Women Lawyers
Email: associationofwomenlawyers@gmail.com
Website: www.awlmalaysia.org

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
No.13, Lorong 4/48e, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7784 4977
Fax: 03-7784 4978
Email: info@empowermalaysia.org
Website: empowermalaysia.org

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor (PSWS)
No. 11A, Jalan Restu 1, Taman Restu, 43000 Kajang, Selangor.
Tel: 03-8737 8380
Email: sahabatwanita@gmail.com
Website: persatuansahabatwanita.org

Perak Women for Women (PWW)
15, Market Street, 30000 Ipoh, Perak.
Tel: 05-246 9715
Email: perakwomenforwomen@gmail.com
Website: ngo.pww.org.my

Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS)
Lot 1610 Tingkat 2, Jln Rock Kuching, 93712 Kuching, Sarawak.
Tel: 082-416 053
Email: sarswws@gmail.com

Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (SAWO)
Lot 23-3, BLK C Damai Point, 88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Tel: 088-262 921
Email: sawo.women@yahoo.com
Website: en.sawo.org.my

Sisters in Islam (SIS)
No. 4 Lorong 11/8E 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7960 3357 / 5121 / 6733
Fax: 03-7960 8737
Email: sis@sistersinislam.org.my
Website: sistersinislam.org

Tenaganita
12, Jalan 6/11, 46000 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7770 3671 / 3691
Hotline: 012-335 0512 / 012-339 5350
Email: general@tenaganita.net
Website: tenaganita.net

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
P.O.Box 493, Jalan Sultan 46760 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Tel: 03-7957 5636 / 0636 (general enquiries)
Hotline: 03-7956 3488
SMS/WhatsApp TINA: 018-988 8058
Email: info@wao.org.my
Website: wao.org.my

Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
Tel: 04-228 0342
Email: wcc@wccpenang.org
Website: wccpenang.org

Justice for Sisters
Email: justiceforsisters@gmail.com
Website: justiceforsisters.wordpress.com

Foreign Spouses Support Group (FSSG)
Email: foreignspouses@gmail.com
Website: foreign-spouses.simplesite.com

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