MP SPEAKS | Why we need to combat children sexual exploitation, abuse

MP SPEAKS | I wish to reiterate my support for the amendments to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (SOAC or Act 792) and agree that it is high time the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 (Act 676) is updated in line with current developments.

To put things in perspective, child abuse has become a serious problem in Malaysia.

According to a report by the Department of Social Welfare, there were 4,019 cases of child abuse in the country in 2019 and the Covid-19 pandemic also led to an increase in reported cases of child abuse, with some reports indicating a 30 per cent increase in cases during the lockdown period.

In 2021, around 6,144 cases of child abuse were reported and 274 occurred whilst...