A TOTAL of 1,721 cases of sexual crimes against children were recorded from January to June 30 this year, said Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff.

She said based on police data, there were 651 cases of rape, molest (344), incest (106), unnatural sex (106) and 514 cases for offences under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792).

“A benchmark study released by The Economist Intelligence Unit in 2019 puts Malaysia in 23rd place out of 60 countries in efforts to protect children against sexual crimes.

“... the government has taken various actions to address the issue of paedophilia, including in the aspect of prevention, legislation and intervention, support system as well as further studies and research to help strengthen the existing system,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

She was replying a question by Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PAS-Setiu) on the current situation concerning sexual crimes against children and efforts by the government to address the issue.  

Zailah said among the programmes implemented are school advocacy campaigns for child safety  (Sahabat Bijak), the enactment of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 as well as providing heavier sentences of up to 30 years’ imprisonment and whipping for convicted offenders.

She said to expedite the judicial process for sexual crimes against children, a special court was established in Putrajaya in 2017 and Kuching (2018).

“The ministry also held discussion sessions last year with the Home Ministry, police and Immigration Department, as well as the Foreign Ministry on the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to further restrict the entry of sexual criminals into the country.

“Cooperation is also being implemented with Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund) to study online sexual crimes against children,” she added. – Bernama, August 18, 2020.