Sexual harassment tribunal set to start before year end, says minister

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 was gazetted on Oct 18 last year after receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Oct 8. (File pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The tribunal formed as part of the recently passed Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 will begin to take on cases by the end of the year, says women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri.

She said the ministry is waiting for the appointment of the 10 tribunal members, including the panel’s president and deputy president, by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

“The attorney-general is determining (the appointment of the tribunal members) for us,” Nancy said in a press conference after the international day for the elimination of violence against women in Kuala Lumpur.

She said the tribunal would be based at the ministry in Putrajaya temporarily, while waiting for the renovation of its permanent office.

The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 was gazetted on Oct 18 last year after receiving the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah on Oct 8.

In October, Nancy said the ministry had obtained approval to appoint the 10 panel members. She said the tribunal would also be responsible for determining how the cases would be handled under the Act.