Malaysia records 3,093 sexual crime cases involving under-18s from 2023 to October 2024, with 608 incidents occurring within school areas
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 3,093 sexual crime cases involving individuals under the age of 18 were recorded between 2023 and October this year.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran revealed that 608 of these cases occurred within school areas.
He provided a yearly breakdown, stating 1,760 cases were recorded in 2023, followed by 1,041 in 2024, and 892 cases from January to October this year.
“As for arrests within the same period, a total of 3,601 were made — 1,194 in 2023, 1,348 in 2024, and 1,059 between January and October this year,” he said during a Special Chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat.
Kulasegaran was responding to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH–Bukit Bendera) regarding government efforts to tackle the juvenile sexual crime crisis.
To address the issue, he said the Ministry of Education has established the Institutional Safety Reform Committee.
This committee is tasked with reviewing and strengthening safety measures in schools.
It comprises experts, academics, government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
Among the improvements implemented are safety audits conducted at affected schools under the Safe School Programme.
Commenting on a national database for juvenile sex offenders, Kulasegaran said the Home Ministry supports the National Child Data Centre through data sharing.
He clarified that implementation is subject to Section 15 of the Child Act 2001.
This provision prohibits police from disclosing any identification details about minors on social media or public platforms.
“The integration of data on children’s well-being, health and education requires additional coordination among various agencies,” he added.
He stated this coordination must comply with legal provisions and data security protocols. – Bernama
