Tabling of Law to #MakeStalkingACrime Welcomed

Women’s Aid Organisation, Press statement – 4 August 2022

Tabling of Law to #MakeStalkingACrime Welcomed

Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) welcomes the tabling of law amendments to make stalking a crime, in the Dewan Rakyat for first reading today.

When enacted, this law will help protect thousands of Malaysians who experience stalking each year. It will also prevent grievous injuries and even murders that are often preceded by stalking.

The law includes the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2022 – which creates the offence of stalking; and the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2022 – which creates a protection order for stalking survivors.

This anti-stalking law is needed.

A study by Women’s Aid Organisation and Vase.ai found that over a third of Malaysians – including 39% of women – have experienced stalking which caused them fear.

More and more countries have enacted specific legal provisions on stalking – most recently South Korea last year.

There is comprehensive support to make stalking a crime in Malaysia, including from enforcement agencies, civil society, academics, legal practitioners, and the public.

Initial versions of the law were developed by the Anti-Stalking Committee – comprising government agencies, WAO, and the Bar Council. Survivors of stalking contributed as well.

We believe the current Bill is robust, and we urge Members of Parliament to support it. Nonetheless, we propose three amendments which would further improve the Bill.

1. Broaden the definition of stalking to include continuous conduct

The current Bill recognises that stalking consists of repeated acts – for example a stalker may repeatedly try and follow and contact you.

But stalking also can be a single but continuous act. For example, a stalker may continuously follow you from your office to your house. These situations can also be dangerous.

2. Add doxing, interfering with property, and spying to the list of acts of harassment.

Stalking laws usually list acts associated with stalking. The current Bill lists following, communicating, loitering around someone’s house or workplace, and sending things as acts that may amount to stalking (if repeated and reasonably causes fear, distress, or alarm).

This list can be improved by adding doxing, interfering with property, and spying. These are also common stalking behaviours.

3. Extend the effective period of stalking protection orders.

A key component of stalking laws is enabling survivors to obtain protection orders. The Bill creates a protection order, but the protection order can only remain in effect for the duration of the investigation and trial.

Courts should be given discretion to extend the effective period of protection orders beyond the investigation or trial period, if necessary to protect the survivor.

All these recommendations are consistent with stalking laws in other countries – like the UK, Singapore, New Zealand, and other jurisdictions.

The government’s move to table the anti-stalking law is appreciated, and we look forward to continue working with the government and policymakers to pass the Bill.

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About Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)

Since 1982, Women’s Aid Organisation has provided free shelter, counselling, and crisis support to women and children who experience abuse. We help women and their children rebuild their lives, after surviving domestic violence, rape, trafficking, and other atrocities. Learning from women’s experiences, we advocate to improve public policies and shift public mindsets. Together, we change lives.

Call the WAO Hotline at 03 3000 8858 or SMS/Whatsapp TINA at 018 988 8058 if you or someone you know is experiencing abuse. For more information, visit wao.org.my.

For more information, please contact:

Yu Ren Chung, Deputy Executive Director
renchung@wao.org.my / 010 225 7971

Abinaya Mohan, Head of Campaigns
abinaya@wao.org.my / 016 665 3237