PETALING JAYA: Co-workers are the most common group of people involved in sexual harassment complaints, says the government’s Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (TAGS).

They make up 50 out of the total 86 sexual harassment complaints received by TAGS over the past two years, since it was set up on March 8, 2024.

“Most complaints are concentrated in the Klang Valley.

“In terms of demographics, most complainants are women and most respondents are men, while incidents involving co-workers make up the largest category.

“Complainants tend to be younger than the respondents,” said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry when contacted.

The most frequently reported types of cases are physical, verbal and visual harassment, with the latter referring to non-consensual exposure to sexual images or gestures.

However, a single complaint may involve multiple forms of sexual harassment.

Here's a look at the cases handled by TAGS so far since it was created. Click on the arrow buttons to see the next image:

The tribunal, which must solve cases within 60 days, provides a quick, inexpensive and easy mechanism for victims to seek redress without a lawyer.

"We believe that many more complaints go unreported because the number of cases lodged with TAGS compared with the police statistics is very different," the ministry said.

As of October last year, there were 872 sexual harassment cases recorded by the police.

With sexual harassment cases on the rise, the ministry is carrying out efforts to encourage more victims to step forward and seek justice through the tribunal.

“The ministry will continue to strengthen its outreach efforts through talks, seminars, forums and engagement programmes to raise awareness on what constitutes sexual harassment under the Anti-Sexual Harassment 2022,” it said, adding that TAGS has participated in more than 80 such programmes nationwide.

These efforts aim to boost public understanding of the tribunal’s mandate and promote confidence in its processes.

“It also aims to ensure that the complaint process is visible, accessible and simple to navigate, so that victims feel confident to come forward,” the ministry said.

It said there has been a steady increase in complaints, from 28 in 2024 to 45 in 2025, with a further 13 recorded as of March 15 this year.

The spike in complaints is consistent with the growing trend of sexual harassment cases received by the police over the years, as shown below:

While TAGS does not have national statistics on online sexual harassment in Malaysia, the ministry said the number of such complaints is expected to rise with the increasing use of social media.

“Based on current data, a number of complaints involve online or digital elements, highlighting the need for greater public awareness,” it said.

Last month (March), minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had said Malaysia was strengthening its response to address both traditional and technology-driven threats including AI-generated abuse, sextortion and harassment in online spaces.

She said the ministry was implementing an approach focused on prevention, protection and accountability to address the problem.

This was following several recent incidents, including an e-hailing driver who allegedly sexually harassed a ­passenger in Johor Baru and X’s Grok artificial intelligence generating deepfakes of women and children, which drew outrage from many.

In May 2024, the tribunal issued its first award in the case of a physical sexual harassment complaint by a female employee against her male employer.

TAGS had also ordered the respondent to issue a public apology as requested by the complainant.

At the same time, TAGS is improving its systems and digital processes so that complaints can be handled efficiently and fairly.

“Efforts will include improving case management systems, digital processes and continuing public outreach so that more people are aware of the role and functions of TAGS under the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022.

“These efforts aim to ensure that the Tribunal remains accessible and responsive to the needs of the public,” the ministry said.

Among the key challenges faced by TAGS are handling sensitive evidence, managing disputes where the parties already know each other, and addressing a growing number of complaints involving digital evidence.

“In such complaints, the tribunal focuses on the evidence and ensures that both parties are given equal opportunity to present their complaint and defence,” the ministry said.

Complaints can be filed at the TAGS counter at the ministry or complainants can contact the Talian Kasih helpline at 15999 for any enquiries.

Here's other key information about TAGS: