The source of the video is not immediately clear, nor is it known how recent the clip is.
Speaking to FMT, however, Suriana executive director Scott Wong said it was crucial that parents keep a strict watch over their children’s movements on the internet.
“Nowadays, kids are given mobile phones and it’s very easy for them to go on the internet when they’re alone and surf pornography,” he said.
Wong cited Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 which says that it is an offence to leave a child without reasonable supervision. Those committing the offence can be fined up to RM5,000, jailed up to two years or both.
The law was cited in a high-profile case last April on illegal bicycle racers, also known as Mat Lajak, following the death of eight children in Johor Bahru several months before. A car had rammed into the children, who were out in the late hours of the night.
The Star quoted then Johor police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd as saying that police may take legal action against the parents or guardians of the children under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001.
Wong added that Malaysia was a signatory of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which states that the best interests of children must be the primary concern in making decisions that may affect them.
“Allowing your children to watch porn, whether or not you’re aware, is certainly not in the best interests of the child.”
Unfortunately, he said, many parents were not serious about monitoring their children’s internet activities.
“In reality, many parents are not able to monitor their child’s activities. As a result, a lot of children, even as young as seven years old, are exposed to pornography and parents aren’t aware.”
Wong proposed that Putrajaya look into the possibility of enacting a new law to deal specifically with the matter.
This, he said, may push parents to be stricter about what they allow their children to access on the internet.
“There should be a law which clearly states that failing to prevent your child from surfing pornography is an offence and that the parents or guardians will be held liable.”