Survey: Many Malaysians experience stalking and want anti-stalking laws

Stalking causes mental and emotional distress and disrupts the lives of victims as well as those around them. Photo: AZMAN GHANI/ The Star

A third of Malaysians (36%) surveyed have experienced stalking that caused them to be afraid; 17% say they experienced stalking that involved actual harm and 12% were stalked and threatened harm. And, they want a law that protects them from being stalked and harassed, a survey by the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO), titled Understanding Malaysians' Experiences of Stalking, has revealed.

The survey of 1,008 Malaysians, conducted in September this year, further showed that 88% of Malaysians have experienced acts associated with stalking which included unwanted emails, chats and messages (76%), phone calls (72%), approached at the homes, workplace or school (33%), sent unwanted gifts, flowers or messages (28%) among other acts.