Azalina calls on all MPs to support Child Sexual Offences Bill

KUALA LUMPUR: All Members of Parliament ( MPs) have been urged to give their full support to ensure that the Child Sexual Offences Bill 2017 will be tabled and passed during the current meeting of the Dewan Rakyat.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said the Bill was vital as emphasised by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak when opening a seminar on addressing child sexual crimes here, earlier yesterday.

“As emphasised by the prime minister, we definitely cannot compromise on the issue of child sexual crimes,” she said in a statement here.

Najib, in his speech at the event, announced that a new bill to specially address child sexual crimes in a holistic and comprehensive manner would be tabled in the current session of Parliament.

He said it was hoped that the Bill would receive the support of all the MPs because it was the responsibility of all parties regardless of political affiliation.

Azalina said among the new aspects to be covered in the Bill were child sexual grooming and child pornography.

She said the setting up of the Child Sexual Crimes Task Force announced by Najib would also open more room for various quarters to collaborate in finding a suitable approach to tackle the issue.

“The Prime Minister’s announcement to establish a special court to hear child sexual crime cases is also a proactive measure to ensure that the offenders would not escape the punishment as stipulated under the Bill,” she said.

Nevertheless, Azalina said the enforcement of law would not be adequate to combat any crimes, hence the need for all quarters to play their roles to ensure that these crimes would not be rampant. — Bernama