KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia was once on the right path in tackling child grooming but political instability until recently waylaid those plans, according to Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) commissioner Prof Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal.
She said the government had introduced a national strategic plan to address child marriages in 2019, and that she had been one of its standing committee members at the time.
However, the more than 50 programmes under the plan were left in limbo due to political instability from 2020 till 2022, she told Scoop.
In that period, there were two changes of government without elections, and the country also had to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.
The national strategic plan had been initiated under the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government, when Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was deputy prime minister and women, family and community development minister.
“There were many programmes, including studies to implement sex education. The committees worked hard with many other ministries, eager to tackle the issue.
“But it all came to a standstill when the government changed, which means the women’s minister also changed. Some programmes went into standstill, some were dropped, some haven’t even begun until now,” she said.
Under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s current government, Noor Aziah said she feels hopeful with Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said as law minister.
“When Azalina and (Education Minister) Fadhlina Sidek took over, as well as (Datuk Seri) Nancy Shukri (as women, family and community development minister), we saw through the amendment to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and now the Education Ministry is looking into implementing sexual education.
“We (Suhakam) have been campaigning for the longest time to have sexual education included in the school syllabus. It is not to teach the kids on how to have sex, but rather, more on personal care, boundaries, how to look after themselves and self-dignity, including how to control their emotions and lust.
“Kids need to be equipped with this knowledge so they know their risks and consequences.”
Noor Aziah, who was children’s commissioner at Suhakam from 2019 to 2022, said regardless of which party rules the government, there must be strong political will to ensure children are protected.
Suhakam is currently working together with the Education Ministry and the legal affairs division under the Prime Minister’s Department to educate teachers about children’s rights, as well as what teachers should do if they encounter signs of sexual crimes on their students.
Currently in the works are special modules on empathy, human rights and other topics related to crimes against children.
“Teachers need to be equipped with knowledge on how to be more empathetic towards their students, and how to handle cases.”
Scoop previously reported on the need for personal safety to be taught to children in schools, so that children know appropriate touch and personal boundaries when interacting with adults and what to do with adults who misbehave.
Noor Aziah said times are different now, especially with regard to habits – such as touching by older people – that were deemed acceptable in previous times but are no longer.
“It was different back then, politeness was viewed differently. Some parents allow it when elders or friends touch or hold their kids out of wanting to be polite.
“Fathers and mothers must be equipped with knowledge and be able to say ‘no’ to strangers or others who want to touch their kids. Parents need to draw the line.”
It is unfortunate, Noor Aziah added, that “not everybody sees child grooming as a crime” as culture and society expect children to be polite and uncomplaining.
“Parents need to be equipped with knowledge to teach their kids about boundaries from a young age, and what they should do when they are uncomfortable.
“Parents, too, must also learn to listen to their kids when they complain of being uncomfortable with relatives or some of their parents’ friends,” she said.
In April, Bukit Aman’s sexual, women and child investigation division’s principal assistant director Siti Kamsiah Hassan said rape cases involving underage girls had increased, with the majority of them involving grooming by their perpetrators.
Police statistics show 1,299 rape cases involving underage girls were reported in 2021, which increased to 1,388 in 2022 and 1,590 in 2023. – May 24, 2024