Sexual abuse must be tackled head on, says Raja Zarith
KUALA LUMPUR: Sexual abuse is an issue Malaysia needs to tackle head-on to ensure all children are protected, says Johor Permaisuri Raja Zarith Sofiah Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah.
“The issue is not a popular one, but we must tackle it and face it head-on.
“Most of us have children of our own, and the older ones – like Tuanku Sultan and myself – have grandchildren too.
“We should try and do our best to protect all Malaysian children,” she said at the Tindak Demi Anak Kita (TinDAK) charity fundraising event held yesterday where she presented a cheque of RM500,000 on behalf of Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar in aid of the continuing fight against child sexual abuse.
The event was organised by Johor Women’s League (Jewel) in collaboration with the Raja Zarith Sofiah Negri Johor Foundation.
Raja Zarith said it was important that children feel that they have adults who would guide and protect them.
“For too long, the children in our country who have been victims of sexual abuse have had no one to confide in, and most of the time, are considered liars.
“I hope we can work with the relevant government agencies and that they will support us in this campaign,” she said.
Jewel, which was founded 10 years ago, has been advocating against child sexual abuse through its TinDAK campaign since 2016.
The campaign aims to protect children through coordinated awareness and prevention. Besides targeting primary school children and the disabled, it will be implementing a pilot programme for teenagers.
TinDAK also plans to conduct awareness training with kindergartens and childcare centres.
Jewel president Liza Alip said that the campaign began after the atrocities of one of Britain’s worstever paedophiles Richard Huckle came to light.
Huckle admitted to 22 charges of rape against children he groomed while posing as a volunteer in Malaysia.
“We started by working with the Johor Education Department and conducted programmes by educat- ing the school counsellors,” she said.
The group also conducted workshops for schools to empower children by teaching them ways to “stay safe, be brave, and tell someone and to run away from potential trouble”.
“We have seen a tremendously positive outcome, whereby more and more children are opening up and many came forward to tell their parents and teachers.
“They are no longer afraid, because they know that someone will listen and believe them,” said Liza.
TinDAK organising committee chairman Thanam VisvanathanSuresh said 22,134 children were sexually abused from 2010 to May 2017, and over half the number were victims of rape.
“The actual figure is likely higher, as many victims do not lodge police reports.
“Plus, there are so many child sexual abuse reports that do not go to court,” said Thanam.
She hoped to engage with the authorities better to help child sexual abuse victims.
“We want to revive the district child protection team that will have representatives from the police, Welfare Department and non-governmental organisations,” she said.