Nancy says that due to increased awareness and reporting, more than 1,000 male sexual harassment complaints have been received since 2024.
kuala lumpur: Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said a significant increase in sexual harassment cases involving male victims has been recorded, with more than 1,000 reports received through the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development’s complaint counter since 2024.
He said Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) figures had recorded a similar increase, indicating the effectiveness of the ministry’s advocacy program in encouraging victims to come forward and lodge reports.
Nancy said that physical sexual assault reported by male victims includes unwanted physical contact involving certain body parts.
“For example, there was an incident in a shopping complex where a male victim suddenly came and a male salesman grabbed him from behind when he was about to enter the fitting room,” he told reporters after conducting the Zero Tolerance of Violence: Say No to Sexual Harassment event here today.
He said that based on complaints received by the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal (TAGS), a total of three cases involving male victims were registered, some of which have already been awarded reward orders.
Meanwhile, on an alleged sexual harassment case involving a district police chief in Sarawak, Nancy said the matter was still under police investigation.
“The ministry appreciates the courage of the officer concerned in coming forward to report the matter, and will continue to closely monitor its developments,” he said.
Commenting on cases of sexual abuse involving children in the home, she urged family members to take all complaints of children seriously, especially where it involves a close family member.
“We always need to listen to what they have to say, because children are sometimes very afraid to talk to their mothers and siblings for fear of being accused of making up stories.
“Through the advocacy program we run, children are now becoming aware of their rights. In fact, some are looking for alternative channels to lodge complaints, including contacting Talian Kasih 15999 or using modern technology like artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT to seek help,” he said.
Earlier in her speech, Nancy said that as of April 26, a total of 92 complaints had been filed with TAGS, of which 69 were successfully resolved, demonstrating the effectiveness of the tribunal in expediting justice for victims.
She said PDRM data shows a worrying upward trend, with the number of sexual harassment cases increasing from 477 in 2022 to 1,038 in 2025, which shows that the issue is becoming more serious and requires stronger action as well as greater public awareness.
