Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman who tabled the bill in the Dewan Rakyat this morning said she was confident that all members of the house would play a role in improving and supporting it during the debate.
“To all perpetrators out there, you can run but can’t hide because we MPs are very united on this issue,” she said.
“We won’t allow any excuse and those who don’t support are perverts.”
Also present were Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim, as well as backbenchers Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai), Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai), Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) dan Mastura Mohd Yazid (BN-Kuala Kangsar).
Azalina said the government is also looking at making amendments to the Penal Code and setting up a special court to facilitate the implementation of the Act. She expressed hope that cases would be resolved as fast as possible and not be deferred for years.
The bill to protect children introduces various offences on sexual crime, with a maximum jail sentence of 30 years, fine of up to RM20,000 and six whips of the rotan.
It covers seven areas, including child pornography, child grooming, physical and non-physical sexual assault, punishments on offenders in a position of trust (such as a family member or teacher) and witness information extraction from children.
According to Azalina, the bill highlights various important social behavioural aspects of people who are complicit in the offences.
This includes anyone helping or participating directly or indirectly in an offence like child pornography but is not performing the act of child sex itself.
It also includes those who withhold information. “If a family member or teacher notices something but does not say (anything) we will go after you. No one (will escape),” she said.
The opposition had recently called on the government to address the issue of child marriages in this Act after it was reported in 2010 that there were 15,000 children under the age of 15 married in the country.
Azalina said the government is open to proposals on this matter from all parliamentarians, saying amendments are possible.
Meanwhile, Rohani characterised the bill as complementing the Child Act 2001 which was amended earlier this year.
“Whatever is not covered in the Child Act is covered in this bill,” she said. “The Child Act protects children but perpetrators are able to evade (punishment).”
Nurul Izzah stressed that all MPs supported the bill to eradicate the scourge of child sexual abuse which occurs frequently.
“Even though we have differences on the question of policy, we are able to get together to protect our children. All parliamentarians are obligated to support this bill,” she said.