Students eager to help fight predators

ALOR SETAR: Students want to do their part to help combat sexual predators, especially when these predators are someone they know, said Unicef Malaysia Communication Specialist Indra Kumari Nadchatram.

“Children often ask about the predator they know such as family members, teachers and bus drivers.

“They want to know how they can reach out for help in case something like that happens,” she said after a townhall discussion on sexual grooming, cybersafety and reproductive health here yesterday.

Some 200 students from 30 schools here attended the discussion as part of the Saya Sayang Saya (I Love Me) initiative.

It was the seventh in a series of nationwide tours coorganised by Unicef, Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, WOMEN:girls and The Star’s R.AGE, and supported by the Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia and the police.

“When the sexual predator is someone you know, go to an adult you trust, another teacher, a family member or the police,” said Digi sustainability consultant Philip Ling.

“As scary as it is, don’t stop asking for help.”

Saya Sayang Saya is a followup to Unicef’s #ReplyForAllMY townhall in Kuala Lumpur last year to call for the enactment of sexual grooming laws, which was championed by R.AGE’s MPs Against Predators campaign.

The session was captured on livestream by R.AGE and can be viewed at fb.com/ragePMP.