PETALING JAYA: The proposed amendment to the law governing child sexual offences is the next step towards protecting all Malaysian children across the world, say children right’s groups.
Children’s Protection Society Malaysia-Kuala Lumpur programme and advocacy director Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman described the Bill as a “necessary gap-closer in existing child protection laws”.
“Child sexual offenders should not be able to escape accountability simply because the offence was committed outside Malaysia.
“The introduction of offences related to livestreamed child sexual abuse, child sexual extortion and AI-generated child sexual abuse material is also a welcome development to address these modern emerging threats,” she said.
However, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha expressed concerns over the potential issue of dual criminality where such activity is an offence under Malaysian law but is not criminalised in the country where it occurred.
“Practical and bureaucratic hurdles may also cause delays in information sharing.”
To improve the amendment’s effectiveness, she said Malaysia should first look into strengthening its international cooperation network, cybercrime capabilities and develop clear legal mechanisms for any cross-border enforcement.
Monsters Among Us founder Firzana Redzuan said the amendment’s effectiveness will ultimately depend on the degree of enforcement, international cooperation and political will of the authorities.
She said the ongoing need for stronger multi-agency coordination at national level must be addressed first, followed by having firmer leadership for these inter-agency coordinated operations.
“Malaysia currently has insufficient allocation of resources and the lack of monitoring and accountability mechanisms according to the United Nations.
“Adequate budgetary resources must be allocated to meet the new needs of international children rights protection efforts,” she said.
Voice of the Children chairman Sharmila Sekaran said the new amendment is a good shift away from focusing solely on the nationality of the offender to also protecting any child with a connection to Malaysia.
“This sends a vital deterrent message to offenders who now cannot assume that they are beyond reach, simply because the conduct occurred outside Malaysia,” she said.
Child rights activist Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin said the Bill creates a legal hook back home if something happens abroad and the local justice system fails.
“More than anything, this expanded law signals that Malaysia takes its children seriously beyond its own borders. This reassurance matters to families.”
Hartini added that the amendments should also target the stateless, undocumented and refugee children within Malaysia, who are falling through existing frameworks.
All Women’s Action Society president Dr Lai Suat Yan said the amendments can now provide ease to Malaysians travelling overseas with their young ones.
“But the amendments must be accompanied by a more comprehensive child protection framework such as support services, sexuality education for children and more reporting channels,” she said.
