New child sex crimes law could be implemented in June

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s new law against child sexual crimes could take effect as early as June.

But first, the Government wants to hear from all stakeholders, inclu­ding the public.

At a meeting with the child sexual crimes task force on Wednesday, Mi­nister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said presented an outline of the proposed law.

Azalina also called on stakehol­ders to continue suggesting improvements at the upcoming Hentikan!! seminar by Permata Programme, an organisation focused on the development of children and adolescents.

“That’s why I’m excited about the seminar because we’ll get to learn from the experts.

“We will continue the amendments after hearing what everyone has to say and we’ll work on them all the way until they are tabled,” she said.

Azalina urged stakeholders to encourage their communities to take part in the seminar, scheduled for March 13-14, so that their opinions and concerns could be taken into account.

Newly-elected KL Bar Commit­tee chairman Goh Siu Lin said the task force should now focus on the implementation of the law.

“We have to make sure proper standards are in place to support a child through the process (of reporting a sexual crime),” she said.

“Everyone from the police to the judges and social workers should be trained in dealing with children.”

Cabinet ministers, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, will be represented a t the event.

The public can also join in the discussion at the Predator In My Phone Facebook page (fb.com/ragepmp) in which The Star’s R.AGE team will be streaming and moderating a live discussion of the seminar.