Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today acknowledged the importance of a Sexual Harassment Act, but said there was no need to enact one right now.

Met at Parliament, she stressed that the Act is important to her ministry which has been working with the Human Resources Ministry to consider its enactment.

Shahrizat revealed that the Prime Minister's Department is looking into the Penal Code and the Employment Code to make amendments in relation to sexual harassment.

"It doesn't mean if we do not enact a new Act, we are not taking this seriously," she said.

Last Monday, Shahrizat met with women's organisations to inform them that her ministry has suggested that the relevant provisions be incorporated into the Employment Act, Industrial Relations Act, Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984. However, the nature of the amendments have not been specified.

This proposal has not gone down well with women's groups, who are pushing for the enactment of the Act.

Royal address

Earlier, the King, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putera Jamalullail, acknowledged the importance of family institutions as the main foundation to stability and social harmony and formation of a caring society.

In the Royal address, he also emphasised that, on par with strengthening of family institutions, the focus will continuously be given to women.

In tandem with this, he said the National Women's Policy and Women Development Action Plan would be reviewed to reinforce and streamline women development's policies and strategies to meet current changes and needs.

His address also touched on the National Family Policy, which aims at developing harmonious families and noble values.