In need of anti-stalking law

THE escalation of gender-based violence during the Covid-19 pandemic has been referred to as a “pandemic within a pandemic”. Following lockdowns to control the virus, there has been both a rise in physical gender-based violence at home and in gender-based cyberviolence resulting from the shift of everyday activities online.

Malaysia’s current legal framework does not protect survivors of cyberviolence or provide them with redress. To fill this gap, the government must enact anti-stalking laws. This can be done immediately – draft amendments have already been prepared by an inter-ministerial committee in early 2020.