Bukit Mertajam parlimentarian and DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng said Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had the party's backing in her efforts to legislate laws against sexual harassment at the workplace.

She said that the Women, Family and Community Development Minister's recent views on sexual harassment clearly showed she was serious about enacting laws.

penang state government allocation for chinese school 050109 chong eng "However, if the minister is facing the same chauvinistic mentality and indifference from her BN male colleagues in parliament to introduce the anti sexual harassment bill, we would like to assure her that the opposition bench - females and males - will stand united to support her," said Chong Eng ( right) .

At a welfare aid event in Gombak yesterday, Sharizat have said employees should be informed of their rights to prevent sexual harassment.

She said most victims suffer in silence because of the difficulty to prove sexual harassment and also, because of the fear of being terminated.

"The issue is not a new one. We have been calling on the government to legislate against sexual harassment in the past 10 years but nothing has been done," said Chong Eng.

Chong Eng said in 2001, a coalition of women NGOs, Joint Action Group against Violence against Women (JAG-VAW, now JAG) submitted a memorandum.

It was a thoroughly researched proposal for a sexual harassment bill to the Human Resource Ministry.

It was to replace the existing voluntary Code of Practice on the Prevention and Eradication of Sexual Harassment in the Workplace.

However, the government has thus far yet to take any action.

Chong Eng also took to task, labour department DG Ismail Abdul Rahim, for saying that the introduction of a sexual harassment bill "could lead to a dull and rigid environment in the workplace".

"This clearly goes to show the mentality of a government - unconcerned for the welfare of the working class and total disregard for gender sensitivity," she said.