Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat today put forward various proposals to strengthen efforts to combat sexual crimes against children, including expanding cross-border cooperation, establishing task forces and special prosecution units, as well as streamlining protection and rehabilitation assistance for victims. During the debate session on the Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026, both government and opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) supported the amendment while proposing several suggestions for improvement.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun) emphasized the need for Malaysia to utilise the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) mechanism and extradition to ensure that child sexual predators operating from abroad do not escape legal action. He advocated for enhanced coordination among the Royal Malaysia Police, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Attorney-General's Chambers, Department of Social Welfare, hospitals, and educational institutions to improve the efficiency of investigations, evidence preservation, and prosecutions.
In alignment with this view, Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodi (GPS-Sri Aman) suggested the formation of a special task force dedicated to digital sexual crimes against children. This task force would bring together various departments and agencies to expedite investigations and coordinate actions against cross-border cases. She also called for increased digital safety education in schools and empowerment of parents to recognize early signs of online grooming and sexual exploitation of children.
Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) proposed the creation of a special prosecution unit for child sexual offences, an increase in child psychology experts within public facilities, and the establishment of a special fund to assist victims with psychological treatment, legal fees, and rehabilitation costs. She highlighted the importance of the amendment to close legal loopholes and prevent Malaysia from becoming a haven for child sexual crimes.
RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) supported expanding legal jurisdiction for offences committed abroad and stressed the need to bolster domestic enforcement by increasing the number of investigators handling child sexual crime cases. Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) recommended creating a database akin to the National Child Sexual Offender Registry to be accessed by enforcement agencies and child-related institutions. She insisted on mandatory background checks for individuals working or volunteering in environments involving children.
The amendment to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) aims to remove jurisdictional constraints, enabling Malaysia to take action against child sexual crime perpetrators even if the offences occur outside the country. A total of 26 MPs participated in the debate on the bill this afternoon, before the Dewan Rakyat session was adjourned and will resume tomorrow.