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Govt firm on making stalking a crime, says deputy law minister

Mas Ermieyati Samsudin says a policy paper along with proposed amendments to the law will be presented to the Cabinet in December.

Staff Writers
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Deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin. Photo: Bernama
Deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin. Photo: Bernama

The government remains determined to criminalise stalking this year, deputy law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said today.

In a statement, she said a meeting had been held yesterday with representatives of government agencies including the women, family and community development ministry, the police, Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Bar Council, as well as academics and NGOs including the Women’s Aid Organisation.

“Efforts to make stalking a crime have been in place since 2019, when an anti-stalking committee was formed,” she said.

“Since early 2020, draft amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code have been prepared by the committee, led by the Legal Affairs Division with the involvement of other government agencies and NGos,” she added.

“The government is committed to making stalking a crime in Malaysia.”

Until the matter is presented to the Cabinet, she added, meetings would continue to be held with MPs, government agencies and NGOs to explain to the public and raise awareness about the effects of such an act on society.

She added that a policy paper, along with the proposed amendments to the law, is expected to be tabled to the Cabinet in December.

Once they obtain Cabinet approval, she said, the amendments will be tabled in Parliament.