Delay in setting up sex offenders registry can risk safety

PETALING JAYA: The government's inaction and the delay in setting up a sex offenders registry could ultimately compromise public safety.
Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) advocacy officer Tan Heang-Lee said this following the return of convicted serial rapist Selva Kumar Subbiah from Canada on Tuesday.
Tan said it is the government's responsibility to proactively protect the public but it has yet to do anything substantial when it comes to sex offenders.
"So far the government has done nothing concrete to assure us of our safety, beyond vague statements that they are monitoring the offender (Selva Kumar). These delays and inaction could jeopardise public safety," she told theSun today.
Tan was also commenting on the revelation that the sex offenders registry, which was supposed to be set up by late 2016, has been delayed due to privacy concerns.
She said there are numerous similar registries in other countries that the government can learn from and a solution must be found quickly.
"The government can and must find a solution, and they must tell us their timelines," Tan said, adding that Malaysia needs a uniform and coordinated response system to deal with sex offenders.
She also urged the people to not look at Selva Kumar's case specifically but instead focus on creating a good response system that prevents all sex offenders from re-offending.
Tan added that if there is a good system in place, the public will be assured of their safety instead of going up in arms over Selva Kumar's return.
The 56-year old was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting 30 women, with some estimating that he may have raped as many as 500 to 1,000 women, and was deported from Canada after serving his 24 year jail sentence.
Canadian authorities reportedly said he expressed no remorse for his crimes and is likely to re-offend, while the police have taken his statement upon arrival in Malaysia and assured that he is being closely monitored.