Cops and docs happy with new Bill

‘Introduction timely, more room to nab perpetrators’

I have been waiting for tougher laws for sexual offences, especially against children. Asst Comm Jenny Ong Chin Lan

KUALA LUMPUR: The police and paediatricians are very much in favour of the proposed laws on sexual offences against children.

Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) assistant principal director Asst Comm Jenny Ong Chin Lan said she has waited for more than five years for the new laws to be introduced.

“I have been waiting for tougher laws for sexual offences, especially against children.

“It is frustrating when we cannot take action in certain cases as there is no provision in existing laws.

“Sexual grooming is one of the cases,” she said yesterday.

The proposed laws will give the police more avenue to take action and to go after sexual predators more effectively, added ACP Ong.

“Now we can have more room to take action against various offences against children, especially sexual grooming and child pornography,” she said.

“Our priority is putting the perpetrator behind bars for the exploitation of children,” she said.

Malaysian Paediatric Association member Datuk Dr Amar Singh said that while the proposed law will be good for children, the support infra- structure should be improved to tackle sexual abuse cases.

He said the country lacked the necessary services, such as an adequate number of social workers and police officers who are experienced in handling such cases.

“The moment we find an abused child, we get the Social Welfare Department, but they are poorly staffed and cannot cope.

“The Government has to upgrade the services and put in more dedicated female officers,” said Dr Amar, a senior consultant paediatrician at the Ipoh Hospital.

Dr Amar said that in Ipoh Hospital alone, doctors were handling 100 to 120 child abuse cases a year, involving physical or sexual abuse and neglect. Nationwide, there are more than 4,000 cases a year, and this is a serious concern, he said.

“One welfare officer handles 100 cases a year on average.

“These officers visit homes and go to the court, and they are frustrated because they are overwhelmed with so many cases.

“We need more trained social workers in the Social Welfare Department.

“The thrust should be to get our services improved rather than just about implementing legislation,” he said.

Former association president Datuk Dr Zulkifli Ismail said that the introduction of the Sexual Offences against Children Bill was timely.

He added that the inclusion of “indecent touching” as being a sexual offence is what paediatricians had been trying to teach parents through their programmes.

Non-physical assaults, including the viewing of pornographic material is now a prelude to child sexual abuse.

“For it to be effective, the public has to be informed.

“Children need to be taught of their rights as well,” he said.