Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 tabled at Parliament today

KUALA LUMPUR: A new law to protect children from sexual abuse was tabled in Parliament today.
Urging all MPs to support the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stressed that stronger unity is needed to protect children and their future.
"So, to all the perpetrators out there, you can run but you cannot hide because we, all the MPs, will be united for this law. Those who do not support the bill, I define them as perverts," she said in a joint press conference after tabling the bill today.
Azalina said there are seven main elements in the bill, namely child pornography, sexual grooming, physical and non-physical sexual assaults, abuse of position of trust, credibility and evidence of children.
The bill extensively provides for
» extra-territorial jurisdiction – any Malaysian who commits an offence under this Act outside the country will also face prosecution;
» child porn – making, possessing and distributing any material with sexually explicit conducts – maximum 30 years jail and maximum six strokes of the rotan;
» child grooming for sexual purposes – maximum of 10 years jail and liable for whipping;
» physical and non-physical assaults, including verbal and visual – maximum 10 years jail or fine RM20,000 or both
» credibility and more admissibility of child testimonies;
» penalising those who abuse positions of trust, where children are placed under their care including supervisors, trainers and healthcare service providers – maximum 5years and 2 strokes
» penalising those who fail to inform or abet, including enforcement officers – maximum fine of RM5,000
» a male offender above 50 years old may still be punished with whipping
» evidence of agent provocateur shall be admissible in court
"I'm quite excited for all the MPs to raise issues concerning this bill and we are also very open to suggestions especially on the penalties, if they want heavier penalties, we can still amend at committee stage some of the sections the government has proposed," she said.
Along with this bill, several sections in the Penal Code, Child Act and Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act will be amended accordingly.
Azalina added that the attorney-general has agreed on the wider reading of the admissibility of evidence while the court itself is open to this.
She said the special court for children to hear sexual abuse cases will begin in KL first before moving to the states.
"Withholding of information like in schools or at home for example, if teachers or family members notice something and do not report it, we will come after you as well," she said.
Azalina said the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry will conduct roadshows for stakeholders and there is a need for a lot of legal literacy on the ground especially the children to create stronger and wider awareness.
Also present at the joint press conference were Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and MPs from both sides of the divide including Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai), Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh), Kasthuri Patto (DAP-Batu Kawan), Datuk Normala Abdul Samad (BN-Pasir Gudang) and Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim (BN-Kuala Selangor).