USM Anti-Harassment Policy

“USM is highly committed to providing and promoting a safe and healthy working and learning environment for the campus community. The University does not tolerate sexual harassment and the whole campus community must comply with the University’s policy on sexual harassment.”

Dasar Gangguan Seksual USM, Pernyataan Dasar (Policy Statement), PDF p. 2 (English translation)

The policy is custodied by the Vice-Chancellor and was approved on 1 July 2009, with the latest review on 1 February 2025 (Borang B, PDF p. 10). The Sexual Harassment Core Committee (JTGS) is the contact for the policy, together with the University Legal Adviser and the Director of KANITA.

USM has an anti-harassment policy that covers the institution and its operations. It defines sexual harassment as unwanted sexual conduct, verbal, non-verbal, visual, psychological or physical (PDF p. 2), and distinguishes quid pro quo harassment from harassment that threatens a person’s peace of mind (PDF pp. 2–3). It also covers harassment outside the workplace that arises from work or study relationships, such as university social events, conferences, official travel, by telephone and through electronic media (PDF p. 3), and technology-facilitated harassment on email, messaging and social media (PDF p. 5). The policy covers harassment by outsiders dealing with the university (PDF p. 3).

The legal basis is Regulation 4A of the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) Regulations 1993, Service Circular No. 5 of 2018 and the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022 (PDF p. 6). The Act, which defines sexual harassment in Section 2 (p. 6 of the Act) as “any unwanted conduct of a sexual nature, in any form, whether verbal, non-verbal, visual, gestural or physical, directed at a person which is reasonably offensive or humiliating or is a threat to his well-being”, establishes the Tribunal for Anti-Sexual Harassment (Section 3, p. 7 of the Act) to hear complaints (Section 7). The policy states that the Act has been in force in stages since 28 March 2023 and that the Tribunal can be accessed by any person (PDF p. 8).

Cases are handled by the Sexual Harassment Core Committee (JTGS) appointed by the Vice-Chancellor, which works with the Legal Office and the Ombudsman and refers cases to the Sexual Harassment Investigation Panel (PSGS), whose members are the Legal Adviser or representative, the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and a member of JTGS, the Ombudsman and the Integrity Officer as secretary (PDF p. 6). The panel may recommend referral to the University Disciplinary Committee or leave the decision to the Vice-Chancellor. The policy lists the people a victim can approach and the steps to take, including making and keeping records, complaining to JTGS and reporting to the police (PDF pp. 7–8). JTGS is also responsible for awareness programmes for the campus community (PDF p. 9).