ALLIANCE for a Safe Community Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye voiced deep concern over the rising incidence of sexual offences involving minors in Malaysia, highlighting what it describes as a growing moral crisis among the nation’s youth.
Lee said the trend reflects weaknesses in social oversight, a lack of understanding of self-worth and responsibility, and declining moral standards.
“Among the main causes identified are excessive exposure to pornography, immoral content on social media, and peer influence,” he said. “Negligence by parents in monitoring their children and the absence of comprehensive sex and moral education at schools also contribute to the problem.”
Lee noted that digital access without proper safeguards allows children and teenagers to encounter inappropriate material easily.
He added that a lack of love, attention, and effective communication within families often drives youths to seek validation externally, sometimes resulting in risky relationships and becoming victims or perpetrators of sexual crimes.
“To curb this trend, a holistic and integrated approach must be implemented immediately,” Lee stressed. He called for schools to provide comprehensive sex and moral education, guiding pupils on respect for the body, social boundaries, and civic responsibility.
Parents, he added, should be trained to recognise behavioural changes in their children and monitor their internet and social media use effectively.
Lee also emphasised the need to strengthen community, school, and NGO roles in awareness campaigns, counselling, and early interventions, alongside stricter enforcement against perpetrators of sexual offences and distributors of pornographic material to minors.
“The responsibility to prevent sexual crimes among youths does not rest solely with authorities. Parents, teachers, and communities must work together to ensure children grow up in safe, disciplined, and morally upright environments,” he said.
“The nation’s future depends on the moral and mental wellbeing of today’s youth. Addressing sexual offences among minors must become a national priority through a continuous, comprehensive plan involving all stakeholders.” - November 1, 2025
