MALAYSIA is facing a moral and social crisis of growing proportions as the number of sexual abuse cases involving children and adolescents continues to rise.
What was once perceived as isolated incidents has now evolved into a disturbing national pattern that regularly dominates headlines.
Even more unsettling is that the perpetrators are no longer only adults but also increasingly children themselves. This reality reflects not just a decline in moral values but also the weakening of the systems designed to safeguard our nation’s most vulnerable – our children.
According to police data, 5,401 cases of sexual crimes involving minors were recorded in 2023, a figure that exposes the disturbing prevalence of exploitation and abuse.
Between January and April 2024 alone, authorities documented 2,059 sexual crime cases against children, indicating that such cases are neither declining nor confined to specific states. They are spreading across communities, schools and even family circles.
The Social Welfare Department further reported that as of mid-2025, there were 1,260 sexual abuse cases involving minors, making it the largest category of child abuse recorded in the country. Experts warn that these numbers only represent reported cases while countless others remain hidden due to fear, shame or manipulation by perpetrators.
Sexual abuse is not merely an act of physical violence; it is a violation that destroys a child’s innocence, trust and sense of safety. It leaves scars that do not fade – psychological trauma, depression, loss of confidence and fear that can persist into adulthood.
Some victims struggle to rebuild their lives while others carry invisible wounds that shape their relationships, education and mental well-being for years to come.
Even more tragic is that many of these acts occur in spaces meant to nurture and protect, such as homes, schools and religious institutions. When the very places entrusted with moral and emotional safety become the setting of harm, it signals that something fundamental in our society has gone terribly wrong.
Equally troubling is the emergence of children and adolescents as perpetrators. Psychosocial research reveals that many of these young offenders were once victims themselves, exposed to pornography or sexual abuse from a young age.
Without moral supervision, parental guidance or religious grounding, they imitate what they consume from digital platforms that glorify sex, dominance and violence.
In some cases, both victim and perpetrator are minors, eroding the line between innocence and culpability. When society fails to teach respect, consent and self-restraint, children learn distorted lessons from their screens instead of from their parents, teachers and faith.
This moral decay cannot be dismissed as an individual failing; it is a systemic issue rooted in multiple layers, including inadequate moral and value-based education, poor parental engagement and the widespread taboo surrounding open conversations about sexual safety and respect.
Many schools continue to avoid teaching topics such as sexual exploitation, consent and online safety, viewing them as uncomfortable or inappropriate.
Meanwhile, digital exposure is nearly limitless, yet moral literacy remains minimal. Parents, overwhelmed by work and distracted by technology themselves, often assume that moral education is the school’s responsibility, forgetting that a child’s character is first shaped at home.
When both school and home fail to act, social media and entertainment fill the void, often with destructive consequences.
The impact of sexual abuse is devastating. Victims often suffer long-term mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal tendencies.
The erosion of trust in adults and institutions creates a generation living in quiet fear. This is not merely a criminal issue but a moral emergency that undermines the credibility of our schools, religious institutions and family systems, which are the pillars of national integrity and compassion.
Malaysia is not without legal protection. The Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, the Child Act 2001 and provisions under the Penal Code provide clear legal frameworks for justice. However, laws without enforcement are meaningless.
Every offender, regardless of age or status, must face the consequences of their actions. Rehabilitation for juvenile offenders is essential but accountability must remain uncompromised.
Institutions that fail to protect victims must also be held responsible. The era of concealing wrongdoing to protect reputations must end. Silence and denial only perpetuate the cycle of abuse.
Beyond the courtroom, the battle must begin in the classroom and the home. Value-based sexual education must no longer be treated as optional or controversial. It is not about teaching physical intimacy but about instilling self-respect, boundaries, dignity and empathy.
The Quran emphasises in Surah An-Nur, verses 30 and 31: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their modesty.” These verses remind us that the foundation of morality begins with discipline, respect and personal responsibility, values that must be nurtured from a young age.
Parents are the first guardians of their children’s safety. They must actively monitor digital exposure, cultivate open communication and teach their children to distinguish between safe and unsafe behaviour.
Communities must reject the culture of silence that protects abusers under the guise of preserving family honour. To remain silent is to be complicit. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said: “Every one of you is a shepherd and every one of you will be held accountable for his flock,” as narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Protecting children is not just a moral obligation but a sacred trust.
The sexual abuse of children is not merely a legal matter; it is a mirror reflecting the moral health of a nation. When society normalises indecency, ignores victims and excuses wrongdoing, it plants the seeds of a broken generation.
Addressing this crisis requires courage – the courage to confront uncomfortable truths, to educate with honesty and to act with integrity. Failure to do so will not only destroy individual lives but also erode the moral foundation upon which our nation stands. The safety and future of Malaysia’s children depend on the choices we make today.
Dr Muhammad Haziq Zaini is a senior lecturer at the Centre for Fundamental Studies, Management and Science University. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com
