Special unit needed to tackle sexual grooming

In support of the 2022 International Women’s Day global collective against discrimination and gender bias, The Star, as chair of the World Editors Forum (Asia Chapter), and in collaboration with its regional media partners, will embark on a year-long initiative to highlight stories that celebrate and promote equality. Go to thestar.com.my for more #breakthebias stories.

PETALING JAYA: Among the things that keep her up at night is the thought that Malaysia could be facing another serial child predator like Richard Huckle or Alladin Lanim, says Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) assistant director Asst Comm Siti Kamsiah Hassan.

That is why the police are proposing the creation of a special unit to specifically target online sexual grooming, she said.

The department, which received an allocation of RM13mil under Budget 2022, has drawn up proposals to fight sexual groomers.

Bukit Aman Management Department director Comm Datuk Zaini Jass, in a previous exclusive interview with The Star, revealed that 100 new postings for D11 have been proposed in a working paper.

ACP Siti Kamsiah said manpower from these new postings would be deployed to new units.

“This is what we are planning, not just at the Bukit Aman level, but at the contingent levels as well. As of now, the proposal is still at the Public Service Department (PSD), but we plan to have this in every IPK (state contingent headquarters) because we need this base in every contingent and that there is enough manpower,” she added.