THE Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) welcomed the Government’s move to introduce anti-stalking laws to protect the vulnerable from those with malicious intent.
“The announcement by the Deputy Law Minister Datuk Wira Mas Ermieyati Samsudin is certainly good news to stalking survivors.
“We urge the Government to follow through on this commitment to make stalking an offence without further delay and MPs should continue its push towards this.
“And we look forward to continue working with the Government and policymakers to get this done,” its senior advocacy officer Rusni Tajari told FocusM.
On Nov 3, Ermieyati said that the Government intends to criminalise stalking and would table a policy paper on the matter by the end of the year.
She added that since early last year, the draft amendments to the law had been prepared by a committee, led by the legal affairs division with the involvement of other government agencies and NGOs.
“The policy paper, together with amendments to the law, is scheduled to be presented to the Cabinet in December.
“And we hope to table the said amendments after the Cabinet’s nod,” Ermieyati was reported saying.
Elaborating on stalking and its adverse effects, Rusni said that stalking was an act of repetitiveness, where the perpetrators repeatedly contact their victims.
She also said that stalkers tail their victims at almost every place they frequent, causing fear and emotional distress to the victims.
“Stalkers might also use both online and offline mediums to stalk and keep harassing the victims, Rusni added.
Unfortunately, there is very little the authorities could do now as the laws were inadequate and Rusni hopes the amendments will resolve the matter by also criminalising both online and offline stalking behaviour.
On what sort of punishment can be meted out against stalkers, Rusni said that the Government can start by introducing a restraining order against stalkers under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
Subsequently, the NGO leader said that severe punishment must be given to stalkers as their victims and survivors usually suffer severe mental distress for years.
“There has to be accountability and punishment, which would mean a fine or a jail term. Ideally (in general, not just for stalking), there needs to be improved and widely accessible rehabilitative therapy and psychiatric assessment services for victims’ rehabilitation to be meaningful,” Rusni opined.
Victims left “scarred”
When it comes to stalking, Rusni said that it was also a form of violence against women, where it is about exerting power and control over their victims.
However, she also noted that stalking was not exclusive against women as even men have become victims of it.
“Stalkers usually understand the circumstances but still do it because they know they can get away from it since in Malaysia, stalking is not a crime.
“Until the law is amended, stalking survivors will continue to be left without adequate protection,” she lamented.
Asked on prevention methods, Rusni said that authorities must raise awareness of stalking and stressed the need for people to have trust on stalking survivors.
As for online stalking, the perpetrator usually creates fake profiles and tries to get in touch with their intended victims by getting the help of the latter’s close contacts.
“Therefore, such accounts must be reported/blocked and no information must be given about the survivor. Remember that stalking happens to both women and men,” she quipped.
Rusni remarked: “Stalking is an act that leaves those targeted feeling uncertain, afraid and can cause emotional distress. In some cases, it also can lead to murder.
“It is important to identify signs of stalking, and harassment – behaviour that is repetitive and instills fear of safety and harm.” – Nov 11, 2021.
