KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,079 cases of violence and 3,042 cases of sexual harassment involving children and caregivers were recorded nationwide from 2021 until November this year.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (pic) said 1,057 cases of violence were reported this year, an increase from 1,201 last year.
There were 612 cases in 2023, 502 cases in 2022 and 707 cases in 2021.
"For cases of sexual harassment where the victim is a child, and the perpetrator is the caregiver, who may be parents, teachers, babysitters, adopted fathers and foster families, there were 418 cases in 2021, 511 cases in 2022, 634 cases in 2023, 667 cases in 2024 and 812 cases as of November this year,” he told Senator Datuk Nelson W Angang during an oral question and answer session in the Dewan Negara on Thursday (Dec 11).
Nelson wanted to know the latest data on violence and sexual harassment cases involving children and caregivers, as well as the Home Ministry’s efforts in providing support and preventive measures.
Saifuddin Nasution said the Home Ministry consistently works with the International Police (Interpol) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to assist in investigations.
"From the aspect of victim protection, once a victim has been identified, the police will work with the Health Ministry and the Social Welfare Department to provide counselling, as well as medical and psychological treatment.
"They are then referred to a shelter, as required under the Child Act 2001,” he said.
He added that the police have also assigned liaison officers to schools to provide continuous information on the dangers of such crimes, in collaboration with various counselling agencies.
To a question from Senator Mohd Hasbie Muda regarding the registration of undocumented children, Saifuddin Nasution said that as of Wednesday (Dec 10), 20,032 cases have been successfully resolved. – Bernama
