Stalking People Online Will Soon Be A Crime Under The Penal Code In Malaysia
A new provision, Section 507A, will be added to the Penal Code, which criminalises both online and physical stalking.
Stalking an individual will soon be gazetted into law as a criminal offence after the Dewan Rakyat passed amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) yesterday, 29 March
According to New Straits Times, the bill was passed by voice vote after a debate involving members of parliament (MPs) from both sides of the divide.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh tabled the second reading of the amendments, which will see a new section — Section 507A — added to the Penal Code to provide for the offence of stalking.
The Star quoted him as saying that the provision will criminalise both online and physical stalking, which includes tracking, meaning "keeping track of a victim in a non-physical manner through any devices, for example by a hidden camera or GPS tracker."
Ramkarpal added that a recent survey by the Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) found that stalking was rampant in the country with 36% of Malaysians having experienced being stalked and felt fear.
Of those surveyed, 12% had been threatened and 17% had been injured as a result of stalking, reported Malay Mail.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Ramkarpal Singh.
Image via Hairul Anuar Rahim/New Straits Times
Once the law comes into effect, a stalker convicted under the section can face up to three years' jail, a fine, or both
Besides the amendment to the Penal Code, CPC will also be expanded to include a new Section 98A, which aims to protect victims from their stalkers, reported The Star.
Currently, Ramkarpal said protection orders are only available to divorced couples.
The new provision under CPC will offer protection orders to victims who have total strangers as stalkers.
Victims who are stalked by relatives, former spouses, and partners will also be protected under the law.
"This amendment is implemented with the aim of providing legal protection to victims of stalking crimes through protection orders issued by the court," he said, as per Malay Mail.
"This amendment was also made based on the philosophy of curbing the crime of stalking and at the same time, will be able to reduce the anxiety, fear, and trauma of the victim."
If you or someone you know may be at risk or has experienced sexual abuse or assault, please reach out to these Malaysian organisations:
1. WOMEN'S AID ORGANISATION (WAO)
Operating hours: 24-hour
Contact: +603-30008858
SMS/WhatsApp: +6018-9888058
Website | Facebook | Twitter
2. ALL WOMEN'S ACTION SOCIETY (AWAM)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9.30am - 5.30pm)
Contact: +603-78770224
WhatsApp/Telegram: +6016-2284221 | +6016-2374221
Email: telenita@awam.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
3. WOMEN'S CENTRE FOR CHANGE PENANG (WCC PENANG)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +604-2280342 | +604-3988340
WhatsApp: +6011-31084001 | +6016-4180342
Email: wcc@wccpenang.org
Website | Facebook | Twitter
4. SARAWAK WOMEN FOR WOMEN SOCIETY (SWWS)
Operating hours: Monday (7pm - 9pm),Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am - 11.30am), Saturday (2pm - 4pm)
Contact: +6082-368853
SMS/WhatsApp: +6016-5822660 | +6013-8044285
Email: sarswws@gmail.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
5. SABAH WOMEN'S ACTION-RESOURCE GROUP (SAWO)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (9am - 5pm)
Contact: +6088-280200 | +6011-27908020
Email: sawo.women@yahoo.com
Website | Facebook | Twitter
6. PROTECT AND SAVE THE CHILDREN (PS THE CHILDREN)
Operating hours: Monday to Friday (3pm - 12am)
WhatsApp: +6016-7213065
Email: protect@psthechildren.org.my
Website | Facebook | Twitter
7. INTERNET WATCH FOUNDATION (IWF)
Anonymously and confidentially report child sexual abuse content and non-photographic child sexual abuse images with IWF's Reporting Portal.
When the law comes into effect, tracking devices on an individual will become a criminal offence:
In September last year, a man stalked a Malaysian artist by entering her art studio after she had left:
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