Anti-stalking bill to be tabled for second reading

The proposed anti-stalking bill will be tabled for second reading when the Dewan Rakyat reconvenes next month, says Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin.

In a statement today, Mas Ermieyati said the anti-stalking bill, which was first tabled on Aug 4, involved amendments to the Penal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code.

The proposed amendment is to protect victims, especially women, from harassment in an offline or online environment. Once the act is passed, offenders may face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine or both under the proposed amendment to the Penal Code (Act 574).

The proposed amendment is to insert a new section – 507a – in Act 574, to provide for the offence of stalking.

Under the section, whoever repeatedly by any act of harassment, intends to cause, or knowingly or ought to know that their act may likely cause, distress, fear or alarm to any person of the person's safety, commits an offence of stalking.
 
The Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) (No 2) Act 2022 Bill was also tabled during the first reading in August.

The proposed amendment to the Criminal Procedure Code, among others, is to insert a new chapter – Xa – in Act 593 to empower the court, upon application, to issue a protection order against a person who is being investigated for or charged with an offence of stalking under the new section (507a) of the Penal Code.

Mas Ermieyati said the proposed anti-stalking bill would be among the earliest tabled when the third meeting of the parliamentary business for the fifth session of the 14th Parliament 2022 reconvenes on Oct 3.

The session will continue until Nov 29, a duration of 32 days.