KUCHING: The recent warning regarding the legal obligation to report suspected child abuse is a critical step towards protecting vulnerable children.
“But we believe there are important considerations that need to be addressed,” said Pertubuhan Pembangunan Insan Sarawak (PPIS) chairperson Manjeet Kaur Sidhu.
“It is crucial for the authorities to provide clear guidelines on what specific actions or behaviour are considered as failing to report suspected child abuse,” she added.
This information, she said, will help the public better understand their responsibilities and avoid unintentional violations.
Manjeet was reacting to concerns raised by Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said earlier over the occurrence of sexual offenses against children.
The fact that so many people who know about abuse occurring in homes, schools, or the neighbourhood are choosing not to report it worries us, she said.
“Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Act Against Children 2017 states that failing to report events that you are aware of is considered an offense. If found guilty, the maximum penalty for an individual is RM5,000,” said Azalina at Putrajaya.
PPIS, as an non government organisation (NGO) that focuses on helping single parents and children, has a strong interest in ensuring the safety and well-being of all children in Malaysia.
“While the threat of fines may act as a deterrent, it is essential to complement punitive measures with proactive strategies to encourage the reporting of suspected child abuse,” countered Manjeet.
“Education and awareness campaigns can play a vital role in equipping individuals with the knowledge and resources to report abuse,” she said.
According to Manjeet establishing support networks and helplines that guarantee anonymity can help individuals feel safer when coming forward with information.
“To evaluate the effectiveness of the warning and associated penalties, it is important for the authorities to put in place a monitoring and assessment system.
“This should involve regular reports and data collection to gauge whether there is an increase in reporting of child abuse cases.
“The focus should not solely be on punitive measures, but also on assessing whether children’s safety and well-being are being better protected as a result.
“Furthermore, the government should also consider engaging with NGOs and civil society organisations to collaborate on child protection initiatives,” she added.
Protecting children, said Manjeet, is a collective responsibility and thus by addressing these aspects, their safety and well-being can be better ensured.
