Appointments to Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment approved by PSD

KUALA LUMPUR: The Public Service Department (PSD) has approved appointments to the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic).

She said her ministry was informed of the approval on Tuesday (Oct 10).

“The tribunal aims to provide an alternative platform to improve the legal system and to handle sexual harassment complaints in a fast, easy manner as well as with minimal cost,” she told the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 11).,

“This tribunal provides sexual harassment victims with a platform (for the) right of redress,” added Nancy.

Nancy said the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (Act 840) is being enforced in phases since March 28, 2023.

The first phase, she said, involved advocacy on knowledge about sexual harassment to the public.

The second phase will entail the formation of the tribunal.

Nancy was responding to a question from Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) on the current status of the tribunal.

The tribunal is a critical part of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022, which was passed by Parliament in August 2022.

Since its gazettement on Oct 18, 2022, many groups have anticipated that the tribunal will also be set up soon.

Without the presence of the tribunal, the ministry announced in March that only several sections of the Act have come into force, including (i) Section 1 – Simple Titles and Commencement; (ii) Section 2 – Interpretation; (iii) Section 24 – Administrator; (iv) Section 25 – Functions and powers of the administrator; and (v) Section 26 – Power to make regulations.

However, the setting up of the tribunal has taken much longer than expected by stakeholders, many of whom have been waiting for decades for the law to come into force. Members of the tribunal will comprise a president and a deputy, who must have judicial experience.

There will be a minimum of five other members who also must have judicial or legal experience.

The tribunal will deliberate on sexual harassment complaints and provide a mechanism for anyone who has been sexually harassed to seek redress.