KUCHING: The Women, Family, and Community Development Ministry is reviewing the existing laws to enhance the protection of children against sexual crimes, particularly in relation to social media and online applications.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said engagement sessions and discussions are actively being carried out with various stakeholders, including the authorities, non-governmental organisations and local communities, especially parents, to strengthen child protection mechanisms.
"This effort is being intensified in response to the challenges posed by technological and digital developments, particularly in addressing cases of paedophilia from the earliest stages," she told reporters after closing the Child Protection Advocacy Programme: KASIH Kanak-Kanak in Samariang Aman, near here, Sunday (Sept 14).
Nancy said several concrete proposals still need to be presented before the government tables improvements or amendments to the relevant acts, including the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, to ensure total protection.
"We want these laws to be comprehensive, not just limited to police investigations. They must involve all parties, particularly communities in every state. Any views or proposals will be taken into consideration," she also said.
She added that engagement sessions so far have received encouraging responses, especially from parents, reflecting a growing level of public awareness despite the rising statistics of sexual crimes against children. - Bernama
