Anifah: Govt should consider establishing register of convicted paedophiles

KUALA LUMPUR: The government should consider establishing a register of convicted paedophiles as a strong deterrent against the crime.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said in a statement yesterday that the offenders should be made known publicly so that parents with young children and the community would feel safer. He was referring to the recent news reports about the case of Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin, a Malaysian student who was found guilty for possessing paedophile material in the United Kingdom and sentenced to five years’ jail for the offence.

He said the government would not condone such acts as they were considered as crime against children.

With regard to Nur Fitri Azmeer’s case, Anifah said the government viewed the matter gravely.

“Malaysian citizens including students are expected to abide by the laws of the countries in which they are domiciled.

“I also wish to stress that Malaysian students have a duty to focus on their studies and to uphold the good name and image of the country,” he said.

He urged the public not to confuse consular services and the preservation of basic human rights with a right to be saved after committing an act deemed as a very serious and inhumane crime, especially one related to children. — Bernama