PETALING JAYA: Authorities must immediately establish how the eight teenagers nabbed following the recent Ops Pedo blitz became involved, says Wanita MCA secretary-general Chan Quin Er.
Chan said any ongoing assessments by the police and welfare authorities must determine whether these minors were groomed, coerced, exploited or manipulated and whether they understood the nature and consequences of their actions.
“Those aged 13 to 15 need particular attention. Investigators should examine family hardship, school disengagement, lack of supervision, peer influence, online grooming, predatory networks, and promises of gifts or money,” she said in a statement on Wednesday (Sept 23).
This comes after eight juveniles, the youngest being just 13 years old, were among 53 individuals detained in Ops Pedo Integrated conducted by the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the operation from Sept 14 to 16 identified 92 targets through intelligence and analysis by the Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children (MICAC) Unit.
He also said the minors detained under Ops Pedo are suspected of producing sexually explicit animated content which was sold online for between RM50 and RM60 per clip.
He said investigations found that some of the suspects not only downloaded child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but also produced animated content before distributing or selling it online.
Chan, who is also MCA publicity chief, further called for a comprehensive assessment of the individual’s psychological, trauma and cognitive assessments, including any history of grooming or coercion.
“Vulnerable minors should be placed under Social Welfare Department care where necessary, with counselling, family intervention, educational re-entry and safe accommodation, rather than treated automatically as adult offenders,” she said.
She further stressed the importance of digital literacy and online safety programmes to help vulnerable youths recognise grooming and exploitation,
Chan added that accountability cannot stop with the children.
“Every adult, buyer, groomer or facilitator found to have induced minors into producing sexual content must be identified, investigated and prosecuted to the full extent of the law, including under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017,” she said.
Chan said that adults who prey on children deserve the full force of the law.
“The children deserve protection, rehabilitation, and a genuine path back to a safe, normal life,” she said.
