According to a report in The Star, in the period from the court’s establishment on June 22, 2017 to Nov 30, 2017, 352 cases were registered.

Of this number, 77.8% or 274 cases have been disposed of, while 78 cases are ongoing in the court in Putrajaya.

In a separate report in The Star, Chief Registrar of the Federal Court Latifah Mohd Tahar said the court created more awareness about sexual offences against children, leading to the increase in the number of people being charged.

The vast majority of offences tried in court were for carnal intercourse against the order of nature. Such offences comprise 80.3% of all cases.

Rape cases comprised 11.3%, followed by molest (6.9%) and incest (1.5%).

Punishment for the crimes is determined by the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which was enforced on July 10.

“With the new Act, coupled with the Child Act and Criminal Procedure Code, the court is able to mete out a combination of punishments.

“Aside from long-term punishment and the maximum whipping, the court can also hand down community service orders, counselling, compensation orders, police supervision and placing perpetrators under good behaviour bonds,” Latifah told the daily.

She said the fight against child sexual predators and paedophiles would be strengthened with the set-up of a special court to hear crimes against children in every state by the end of next year.

Currently, there is only one such court in Malaysia – at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

In addition, a new standard operating procedure (SOP) on child protection and handling of such sexual offences would be launched on Wednesday by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said.

The SOP will include support services for the child and the role of child counsellors in helping victims to deal with their trauma, said Latifah.

She said that at present, only a child psychologist from the social welfare department would be present during proceedings, and even this was only at the court’s request.

She stressed the need for more support systems for the children, from the beginning to the end of their case.

Each branch of the court will have its own child witness room which will be equipped with a video-link system to allow the child to testify safely.