KUCHING: Strengthening the One-Stop Social Support Centre (PSSS) has led to a dramatic increase in sexual harassment reports from men.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said that when advocacy efforts under the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (TAGS) first began, only slightly more than 100 cases from male victims were recorded.
At that time, she said that the data was obtained solely from police reports.
“Once we strengthened our PSSS, we saw an increase – more than 1,000 cases already. That was a few months ago. These cases were reported to our counsellors, not to the police,” she said.
She said this in her speech when officiating at the ‘Kem Kasih Keluarga 2.0’ programme closing ceremony in conjunction with the state-level national family month celebration at Damai Sentral today.
Nancy said the sharp increase may be due to more men feeling comfortable to come forward through counsellors rather than lodging police reports as some may have felt embarrassed previously.
She added that TAGS is now fully operational under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (ASHA 2022) and provides a legal avenue for victims to file complaints.
“There have been cases filed but some could not be accepted due to the facts or lack of evidence. However, the tribunal is not only for women but it is also for men,” she stressed.
Earlier, she said that the government, through her ministry, is committed to strengthening the family institution through policies, support programmes and parenting education that meet current challenges.
“Programmes such as ‘Kem Kasih Keluarga’ are important because they create opportunities for families to reconnect, listen to one another, and build empathy,” she said.
She added that the organisation of this programme is seen as being able to strengthen the family institution in line with the National Kasih Keluarga Negara Agenda outlined in the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP).
“Through the National Kasih Keluarga Negara Agenda, we place emphasis on strengthening husband-wife relationships, enhancing parenting education especially for fathers, improving family emotional management, and providing social interventions for families in need,” she added.
