KUALA LUMPUR – Children’s sadomasochistic fantasies were the last thing lawyer Toh Harnniann, well known among Chinese netizens for his witty writings, expected to read about when he invited followers to share their stories via private message on Facebook.
A secondary school student reached out to him three months ago, telling Toh of a friend who had engaged with an online group on the sexual kink.
The girl had also served four “masters”, the boy revealed.
He said his friend would send him nude photos of herself and ask him to join the group in the hopes of being able to live out her fantasy of being a “submissive”.
"She said her ‘dominants’ would teach her how to perform via webcam, and she would do it while they watched. She wanted me to act it out with her,” the student told Toh, adding that he was disgusted by such acts.
Worse still, the girl had been doing this for three years – meaning she was just 11 when she started.
Toh, speaking to Sin Chew Daily, said after he shared the student’s story on his Facebook page, he received messages from parents saying their children, too, had been exposed to and participated in sadomasochism.
“However, they don’t report the matter to police as they are embarrassed.”
Checks by the Chinese-language paper showed that there are numerous sadomasochist groups on Facebook, though adult members often warn against getting children involved.
Whether or not a minor consents to having sex, said Toh, engaging in it is in violation of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017.
“Under the law, those who are underage are incapable of giving consent. The law is enacted to protect them.
“Therefore, engaging in sexual acts with her is considered statutory rape,” he said, referring to the female student whose story was shared by her friend.
He urged parents to teach their children sex education.
“In an Asian environment, sex is considered a taboo topic. But just because you don’t talk about it, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t happen.
“We need to teach our children that their bodies are sacred, that even their fathers can’t touch them if it makes them uncomfortable.” – The Vibes, September 20, 2020
