GEORGE TOWN: Female students targeted by alleged AI-generated sexually explicit images should come forward for help rather than suffer in silence, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
She said it was difficult to reach out to the victims without knowing their identities, but the ministry was prepared to provide counselling for them and their families.
Speaking to reporters after launching the national-level PINK CaRe Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign 2026 at the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre here yesterday, she said qualified counsellors were available through agencies under the ministry, including the National Population and Family Development Board, Social Welfare Department, and National Welfare Foundation.
The case came to light after fake nude images of about 300 schoolgirls, allegedly created using AI, were reportedly found on a male student’s mobile phone.
Negri Sembilan police chief Datuk Alzafny Ahmad was previously reported as saying that police received five reports between Aug 20 and 23 involving victims aged between 14 and 17.
Meanwhile, Nancy said fear and a lack of awareness could be among the reasons for the decline in mammogram screenings among Malaysian women.
She said the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2023 showed that only 12.8% of women aged 40 and above had undergone mammogram screening in the preceding three years, down from 21% in 2019.
“Some women are unaware of the importance of screening, while others are afraid.
“Even I feel afraid sometimes, but as women, we must have the courage to undergo these examinations,” she said.
Nancy said awareness programmes are important to encourage more women to undergo screening, as early detection could improve their chances of successful treatment.
Breast cancer remains the most common cancer among Malaysian women, accounting for about one-third of all new cancer cases among women.
According to Global Cancer Observatory 2022 data, Malaysia recorded 8,371 new breast cancer cases among women and 3,526 deaths that year.
Nancy said the government had increased the allocation for the Mammogram Screening Subsidy Programme from RM8mil this year to RM9mil under Budget 2027, which was expected to benefit an estimated 38,000 women.
However, she acknowledged that the allocation was insufficient to meet the needs of all eligible women.
“It is actually not enough, but that is what we have at the moment. If there is a need for additional funding, we will try to apply for more,” she said.
Introduced in 2007, the programme primarily targets women aged between 40 and 70.
Eligible Malaysian citizens and permanent residents with household incomes of RM10,000 and below can generally receive free mammogram screenings, while those earning above RM10,000 may qualify for a RM50 subsidy.
The programme is supported by 67 accredited mammogram centres under LPPKN nationwide.
Nancy said 595,143 women had undergone screenings under the programme since its inception, with 1,334 breast cancer cases confirmed as of Sept 30.
Women seeking information on their eligibility for screening can contact any of the 50 LPPKN Nur Sejahtera clinics nationwide, she added.
