KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 11 — In a significant move to protect the nation’s children, the Malaysian government is rolling out tougher laws, innovative legal tools, and a more compassionate approach to tackling sexual crimes against minors.
This initiative isn’t just about enforcing the law — it’s about making justice accessible, safe, and less traumatic for victims. Deputy Director-General (Legal Reform Sector) of the Legal Affairs Division under the Prime Minister’s Department, Thiyagu Ganesan, explained that amendments to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 [Act 792] have modernized the fight against these crimes. The changes, introduced in 2023, include replacing the outdated term “child pornography” with the more accurate “child sexual abuse material”, criminalizing new forms of exploitation such as live-streaming sexual acts and sextortion, and making it mandatory for perpetrators to compensate victims.
In addition, the Online Safety Act 2025 (Act 866) puts the onus on digital platforms to remove harmful content swiftly, with a forward-thinking “safety-by-design” approach to keep children safer online.
One of the most compassionate steps is the expansion of Special Courts for Sexual Crimes Against Children to 81 across Malaysia — along with mobile courts that go directly to the child’s location. These mobile courts come equipped with child-friendly witness rooms, sparing young survivors from the trauma of a traditional courtroom setting.
To ensure justice is handled with sensitivity and expertise, prosecutors, judges, and lawyers are receiving specialised training, with reforms in 2023 shaping how child witnesses are questioned in court. Public awareness campaigns are also being ramped up to remind citizens of their legal duty under Section 19 of Act 792 to report any suspicion of child sexual crimes.
On a broader scale, amendments to the Suhakam Act 1999 have introduced a Chief Children Commissioner role, along with two dedicated Children Commissioners and an additional Commissioner. These leaders will not just monitor government policies but also speak out, recommend improvements, and keep child protection issues in the national spotlight.
“This is about more than legal reform,” Thiyagu stressed. “It’s about creating an environment where children are heard, protected, and given justice without fear.”
