KUALA LUMPUR: Easy access to pornographic content and materials has been cited as among the main reasons behind cases of sexual crimes against children, Parliament was told.
In a Parliamentary written reply, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said based on police investigations, other factors behind such cases include the high number of social media platforms that were easily accessible by anyone, including children.
Such platforms on the social media, he explained, was where most victims get to know the suspects and eventual become a victim of sexual harassment.
"Addiction to pornography also makes individuals want to try and engage in sexual activities, eventually leading themselves to get into various sexual offences," he said in a reply to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera).
Syerleena had asked the Home Ministry to state the number of cases of domestic violence, sodomy and sexual crime against children between 2018 and 2022.
Other factors include the breakdown in the family institution where some had engaged in sexual relationship and incest cases, he said.
"Many are left unsupervised and seek gratification and pleasure on their own, leading to involvement in sexual relationships," added the Home Minister.
According to Saifuddin, some 5,369 cases of sexual crime against children have been reported nationwide between 2018 and 2022.
"Based on the statistics according to the breakdown by age, it shows that children between the age of 13 and 15 years, represented the highest number of victims, with a total of 2,026 cases.
"The lowest number of cases is recorded for victims aged six and below, with a total of 405 cases," he said.
Within the same period, some 4,508 cases involved girls while 861 cases had involved boys, Saifuddin Nasution said.
Regarding the relationship between suspects and victims for cases reported within the same period, there were a total of 5,394 suspects, with some cases having more than one suspect, said the Home Minister.
"Cases involving suspects known to the victims as acquaintances recorded the highest number, specifically 1,151 cases," said Saifuddin Nasution.
He also revealed that there were a total of 5,460 offenders or suspects in sexual crime cases recorded between 2018 and 2022, with such cases investigated under the Child Sexual Offenses Act 2017 (Act 792).
