RECENT headlines in Malaysia have once again reminded us of the disturbing reality of paedophilia and child sexual abuse. A few months ago, a prominent social media personality was arrested for allegedly grooming and sexually abusing minors. In another case, a male teacher was charged with repeatedly molesting his own students. Such cases shock the conscience, but they are sadly not isolated.
Paedophilia is a psychological condition marked by persistent sexual interest in prepubescent children. While paedophiles are often portrayed as predatory men, we must also acknowledge that women, too, can be perpetrators of sexual abuse against children. In 2025, a woman pleaded guilty on two counts of committing sexual assault on a teenage girl last year. In 2023, a woman in Johor was charged under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act for producing child pornography and exploiting her sons. These cases, though rare, are not unheard of, and it is time our public discourse acknowledges this uncomfortable truth. Paedophiles are not confined to any particular gender, age, marital status, or social class.
