PETALING JAYA: Around 69% of Malaysians who have been stalked did not report it to the police, according to a recent survey of 1,008 respondents.
From that number, nearly half (45%) said they did not make a police report because they felt that the police would not believe them nor help them on the complaint.
The Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) survey also found that of the 31% of respondents who did make a police report, 47% were not satisfied with the action taken by the police.
Speaking at a webinar today, WAO advocacy director Yu Ren Cheng said the police were not entirely to blame as stalking is not a crime.
“This could not even be the fault of the police as maybe they are not equipped (to handle the complaint) as they don’t have adequate power to help.
“A lot of the times we find that the police really want to do something and are trying their best, but since there isn’t a law, they cannot fully investigate it (stalking claims).
“We need to recognise stalking as an offence so the police can take more satisfactory action. This is the reason why we are pushing for an anti-stalking law,” he said.
The survey “Understanding Malaysians’ Experiences of Stalking” sought to assess the prevalence and understanding of stalking in Malaysia.
One of the survey’s findings was that more than a third (36%) of Malaysians overall have experienced being stalked. About 39% of women and 32% of men gave such a response.
Meanwhile, one in eight (12%) of respondents (8% of women and 16% of men) experienced stalking involving threats of harm, and one in six (17%) respondents (12% of women and 21% of men) experienced stalking which led to actual harm.
Almost half of Malaysians (46%) who experienced acts associated with stalking suffered a negative impact in their daily life.
About 18% of respondents said they were unable to focus in their employment place, 17% could not or did not feel safe being alone in public, and 6% could not or did not feel safe to attend university or skills training courses.
In September, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun told Parliament that the Sexual Harassment Bill – which was expected to be tabled for a first reading in the Dewan Rakyat by the end of the year – would criminalise stalking.
She also noted suggestions that a specific provision regarding stalking could be introduced through an amendment to the Penal Code.
“Malaysians want change and reform … and better and stronger laws that protect women from violence and discrimination, including in the workplace,” said WAO executive director Sumitra Visvanathan.