What if the sexual predator is someone you know?

The townhall panel speakers and students take a group photo after the event.

ALOR SETAR: Secondary students want to do their part in helping combat sexual predators, especially when such predators are people they know.

“Children often ask about the predator they know – for example, family members, teachers, and bus drivers,” said Indra Kumari Nadchatram, Unicef Malaysia Communication Specialist.

“They want to know how they can reach out for help in case something like that happens,” she said here on Tuesday after a townhall discussion on sexual grooming, cybersafety, and reproductive health.

When the sexual predator is someone you know, “go to an adult you trust, another teacher, a family member or the police,” said Philip Ling, Digi Sustainability consultant.

“The important thing is that as scary as it is, you don't stop asking for help,” he added.

About 200 secondary school students from 30 schools here attended the discussion as part of the Saya Sayang Saya (I Love Me) initiative.

It was the seventh in a series of nationwide tours co-organised by Unicef, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, WOMEN:girls, and The Star’s R.AGE, and is supported by the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia (FRHAM) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM).

Saya Sayang Saya is a followup to Unicef’s #ReplyForAll-MY townhall in Kuala Lumpur last year to call for the enactment of sexual grooming laws, which was championed by R.AGE’s MPs Against Predators campaign.

The students watched an episode from R.AGE’s investigative documentary series Predator In My Phone, which was followed by a panel discussion with representatives from PDRM, FRHAM, Digi and R.AGE.

The session was captured on live stream by R.AGE, and can be viewed at fb.com/ragePMP

The previous townhalls in Terengganu, Pahang, Kelantan, Sabah, Johor Baru and Sarawak reached out to more than 1,400 students and teachers.

Saya Sayang Saya will continue with one more session in Penang.