KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the police are intensifying efforts to combat the online sexual exploitation of children through enforcement and public awareness campaigns.
In a joint statement on Monday (June 23), the MCMC and Bukit Aman CID's Sexual, Women and Children Investigation Division (D11) reaffirmed their commitment to tackling this serious crime.
"From January to June 15, 2025, the authorities identified 1,501 pieces of offensive online content involving minors.
"Of these, 94% (1,415 items) were successfully removed thanks to cooperation between MCMC, digital platform providers, and public reports," the statement read.
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Daily monitoring, including a major crackdown dubbed "Ops Pedo" in December, led to the arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of more than 40,000 items of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from various states.
"Sharing, storing, or commercialising CSAM is punishable under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, carrying penalties of up to RM1mil in fines, five years’ imprisonment, or both.
"Additionally, producing, distributing, sharing, purchasing, or possessing CSAM is a criminal offence under Sections 5 to 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017," it said.
As part of a broader approach, the MCMC has ramped up its Safe Internet Campaign targeting students, parents and communities. A key message of the campaign is the prohibition of social media accounts for children aged 13 and below.
The MCMC and the police also called on all parties, including parents, educators, community leaders, platform providers, and Internet users, to unite in fighting online child exploitation.
Public reports are vital to help investigations and prevent further abuse, they said.
Suspicious online activities can be reported to MCMC via e-mail at aduanskmm@mcmc.gov.my, through the complaints portal at https://aduan.mcmc.gov.my, or at the nearest police station.
On Sunday (June 22), PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar called for concerted action against the online sexual exploitation of children, which she termed a “national disgrace” that demands collective responsibility from the authorities and society.
Her remarks followed the exposure of a Facebook group, Group Budak2 Sekolah Rendah, which had amassed more than 12,000 members who allegedly shared or viewed content involving primary school children with explicitly sexual comments and captions.
