Kuala lumpur: The proposed amendment to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) aims to eliminate jurisdictional limitations for Malaysia in addressing child sexual crimes, regardless of whether these offences occur internationally.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said emphasized that the amendment is part of broader efforts to bolster protections for children against cross-border sexual crimes and ensure the act's relevance amidst the changing landscape of such offences. She highlighted the government's stance that protection should not be hindered by the crime's location or the jurisdictional reach over the offender.

In her address during the tabling of the Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026 for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat, Azalina outlined the proposed changes to Section 3 of Act 792. The amendment intends to broaden the act's extraterritorial jurisdiction, which currently only pertains to offences committed abroad by Malaysian citizens, to include permanent residents and individuals ordinarily residing in Malaysia.

She further explained that the protection under the act would extend to children who are Malaysian citizens, permanent residents, or ordinarily residing in Malaysia. She cited alarming data from the Internet Watch Foundation, which reported 16,238 instances of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) involving Malaysian children in 2024, marking a rise of over 225 percent compared to the prior year. In just the first half of 2025, 12,656 cases were documented, underscoring the digital and transnational nature of the threat to children.

Azalina also noted the increasing complexity of sexual crimes against children, which now often involve the use of closed platforms, encryption, false identities, and cross-border operations, complicating efforts to detect and prosecute offenders. She asserted that the amendment conveys a resolute message that Malaysia will not tolerate any form of child sexual exploitation.

She concluded by stressing the collective responsibility to protect children, who do not choose to be victims, through stringent, contemporary, and effective legislation.