PUTRAJAYA – Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun said her ministry views the rising number of internet protocol (IP) addresses registered in the country suspected of sharing child pornography seriously.
She said the Royal Malaysian Police have recorded 106,764 IP addresses involved in such heinous activities from 2017 up until August this year – which is a worrying and jarring figure.
“My ministry views this trend as unhealthy development, especially as it involves a vulnerable group. Exposure to child pornography can lead to sex addiction, which can eventually lead to other sexual issues,” she said at a press conference after launching a campaign against online sexual crimes against children here today.
She added that her ministry is using the campaign as an initiative to help and guide children, parents, and the community to deal with the current challenges posed by all sorts of cyber crimes.
The campaign has five main objectives: to increase children’s understanding of using social media wisely and safely, highlight the dangers of unmonitored social media, and raise awareness among parents and the public regarding the use of social media among children.
Sharing the statistics of sexual offences involving children, Rina said from January to June, the police received 47 cases of gang rape, unnatural sex (95 cases), incest (127 cases), obscenity (438 cases) and rape (641 cases).
Rina said her ministry has implemented various efforts, including establishing the Integrated Action Committee on the Management of Children’s Issues Online on June 15, 2021, empowering counselling services in 108 District Social Welfare Offices, and empowering communities by appointing 299 protective assistants in the Social Welfare Department.
She added that her ministry is organising the first two-day Children’s Conference starting tomorrow, which will be attended by the Malaysia Children’s Representative Councils nationwide to represent the voices of children in the country. – Bernama, September 4, 2022
