Current laws not extensive enough to cover sexual crimes, says action group
PETALING JAYA: There is an urgent need to speed up the enactment of laws covering all aspects of child protection, including the Child Sexual Abuse bill and the amendments on rape crime.
While a petition to support the Child Sexual Abuse bill is ongoing, concerned citizens and activists who have formed Citizens Against Child Sexual Abuse (Cacsa), urged for more public awareness on the impact of child pornography.
Noting that the issue of child pornography is not well covered under the law, Cacsa spokesman Mimie Loke (pix) said although distribution of pornographic materials is illegal, "watching child pornography" is not illegal in Malaysia.
"Unfortunately, Malaysians do not understand the implication of child pornography. (According to police) Malaysia has one of the largest child pornography viewers in the world.
"It is important for the public to know that watching child pornography is an offence as the child in the video is a victim and is being sexually abused.
"When there is a demand for such videos, more children will be sexually abused," she told theSun.
According to police, Malaysia is reportedly the third highest among Southeast Asian nations in ownership and distribution of child pornography due to a lack of specific laws to prosecute those in possession of such material.
Loke said it is important to have personal safety courses for children.
Personal safety can cover what kind of touching is permissible or otherwise. No one should touch a child's private parts, unless it is done by a parent for cleaning purposes, or during an examination by a doctor in the presence of a parent, she added.
Currently, over 40,000 signatures have been collected nationwide since November last year and Cacsa is in the midst of meeting MPs to discuss the matter and push for the laws.
The petition calls for heavier penalties to be imposed on child sexual offenders. Provisions against sexual acts, grooming for sexual purposes and the redefining of rape are currently not covered in the Child Act or Penal Code.
Despite the government's call in May 2015 to amend laws to redefine rape following a 60-year-old man's acquittal of raping a minor in Sarawak, the amendments have yet to be tabled in Parliament.
Loke said the delay prolongs the exposure of children to the risk of falling victim, while perpetrators escape prosecution.
"In America, it is sufficient (for action to be taken) if an adult (is found with offensive) images of children in any device owned by that person.
"If Malaysian laws can be amended to (such affect), it will certainly help in apprehending sexual offenders or predators," she said.
More information is available from the Citizens Against Child Sexual Abuse Facebook page. The public is also invited to sign the petition at http://www.ngohub.asia/petition/index.php.
Cacsa is backed by prominent non-governmental organisations such as NGOhub, Protect and Save the Children, Voice of the Children and RAGE.