BUTTERWORTH: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is calling on students to know their boundaries, dare to say no, and seek help if they face sexual harassment or violence.
Deputy Minister Lim Hui Ying said this awareness is crucial to keeping schools a safe environment for children.
Beyond victims coming forward, she said, friends and family members must also play their part by offering support if they notice behavioural changes or suspicious circumstances among those close to them.
"If they feel they cannot accept it, they must dare to say no. We also want to teach them how to seek help when someone faces sexual harassment or violence.
"This is not a case or situation to be ashamed of. They must dare to come forward and look for channels of help," she told reporters after the Zero Tolerance for Violence: Respect the Boundaries programme at Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan Chung Ling here on Tuesday (Sept 29).
Lim said bullying, sexual harassment and violence require a cross-ministry approach, covering advocacy, prevention, awareness and counselling.
She said the ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, also has professional counsellors who can assist schools if needed.
Meanwhile, Lim said 142 complaints had been filed with the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (TAGS) as of Sept 20, with 97 of them successfully resolved.
She said TAGS, established under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022, gives individuals facing sexual harassment an alternative avenue to seek easier, quicker and more affordable resolutions.
Lim said the rise in sexual harassment cases reported to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) should also be viewed in terms of greater awareness and more individuals having the courage to come forward for help.
Based on PDRM statistics, 477 sexual harassment cases were recorded in 2022, rising to 522 in 2023, 788 in 2024 and 1,038 in 2025, while 388 cases were reported as of May 31 this year.- Bernama
