Youth Parliament calls for Sexual Harassment Act to be created

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian youth parliamentarians have called for a Sexual Harassment Act to be created.

The proposal on the new law was made during the Malaysian Youth Parliament sitting.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin agreed with the need to have such an Act in Malaysia.

He said sexual harassment was a serious issue that needed to be addressed, citing the recent reports of sexual harassment and abuse in the country’s diving team as an example.

“With such an Act, it can address sexual harassment problems in a more effective way,” he said in his speech at the closing of the Youth Parliament’s first sitting for 2018 yesterday.

Khairy also commented on the misconception that women’s dressing led to incidents of sexual harassment.

“Women are the victims, and I totally disagree with the view of some people who say that sexual harassment happens because of how women act and what they wear. Do not try to shift the blame to victims,” he added.

In his speech, Khairy also called on youths to appreciate and defend the country’s parliamentary system. He added that there were countries that still do not have a democratic system that Malaysians enjoy.

He also asked Malaysians aged 21 and above to exercise their rights and participate in the country’s general election, as the participation of the people in the country’s political process was what made democracy flourish.

The Youth Parliament, which was attended by 125 youths nationwide, also passed three other proposals – urging the Government to review corporal punishment, such as the use of the rotan in schools; criticising the European Union for limiting the import of palm oil into EU countries; and asking the Government to review housing and land policies which can help bring better benefit to youths.

Khairy said the quality of the debates in the Youth Parliament has improved a lot after its fourth year.