Malaysia’s First Woman Deputy Premier Seeks Tighter Abuse Laws
- Guardians to be held accountable for reporting child assaults
- Wan Azizah heard ‘horror stories’ of offenses against minors
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Malaysia plans to tighten existing laws protecting children against sexual violence and hold guardians and teachers accountable for ignoring telltale signs of abuse, the nation’s first female Deputy Prime Minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said.
An act on sexual offences against children was passed last year under the former government of ex-premier Najib Razak. It aims to protect minors below 18 years old and makes child pornography and sexually communicating with a child an offense. Wan Azizah, who holds a second portfolio as the minister of women, family and community development, said there’s room to strengthen the law to make it more effective.