Nur Jazlan: Delay in setting up of national registry of sex offenders

PETALING JAYA: Concerned members of the public will have to rely on existing sex offenders lists held separately by the police and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for now.

Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said there has been a delay in the setting up of a national registry of sex offenders owing to concerns raised by the Attorney-General’s Chambers over the infringement of rights of those on the list.

The police and the ministry, said Nur Jazlan, have their own lists.

“There is an unofficial sex offenders list kept by the police but not made public.

“What I am saying is, if the list is under the police, then any information of the whereabouts of any offender can be obtained at the local police station for the community to check,” he said yesterday.

However, the list by the ministry, said Nur Jazlan, was not updated beyond the conviction of an offender.

“In a way, this list is made public. Their court conviction is already public but there is no follow-up on the offenders’ whereabouts after the conviction,” the Deputy Home Minister pointed out.

Nur Jazlan also said it was only with the local community’s concern and involvement that the maintenance of the lists could become effective.

“Social activism is another important component but any vigilante act must be avoided,” Nur Jazlan said, adding that there was also the concern that those on the list would be shunned and stigmatised.

On concerns over the return of convicted serial rapist Selva Kumar Subbiah from Canada after serving a 24-year prison sentence, Nur Jazlan said the police would keep tabs on the man within their means.

“Amend the law to include the sexual offenders list but protect their human and citizen rights at the same time.

“But above all, the public must be fair to Selva Kumar because he has paid his dues in Canada for over 20 years,” he said.

The Malaysian, convicted of sexually assaulting dozens of women in Toronto, is expected to be deported on Sunday.