The Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) has urged the government to expedite the tabling of the Child Act (Amendment) Bill 2015 for the second and third reading during the current Parliament session.
Its vice-chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the amendments of the Child Act 2001 need to be expedited in view of the increasing number of child abuse cases in the country.
"Parents, guardians, childminders and adults must be made aware that amendments to the law will have stiffer punishment against those who abuse or neglect children.
"The proposed amendments to the Child Act 2001, which seeks to provide better protection of children, carry heavier penalty of up to RM50,000 fine and a maximum jail sentence of 20 years for those convicted of child abuse. Under the present Act, child abuse is punishable with a fine of not more than RM10,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years," he said in a statement issued to Bernama.
The Bill was tabled for the first reading in Parliament last December.
The amendments also include the proposed registry of perpetrators who committed crimes against children and the setting up of a National Council for Children to advise and make recommendations to the government on issues related to the care, protection, rehabilitation, development and participation of children at the national, regional and international levels.
Lee suggested that the law be able to adequately address issues related to child pornography issues since the exploitation of children such as child prostitution and pornography including making, possessing and disseminating of child pornographic materials is also construed as child abuse.
The proposed amendments to the Child Act 2001 are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), namely the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography; and the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict that was ratified by Malaysia.
Meanwhile, he said MCPF supported the removal of caning as a form of corporal punishment for children who commit crime because currently caning of minors convicted of criminal offences is left to the court's discretion.
Furthermore, since the amendments will ensure that under aged offenders are rehabilitated through community service, counselling and family-oriented programmes, Lee said going forward, the counselling services for children should be enhanced.
"The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry should train more counsellors for schools so that children will receive proper and relevant guidance and advice. This is important to address negative issues and behaviours among children as well as prevent them from engaging in criminal acts," he said.
Bernama
Mon Mar 21 2016
The amendments of the Child Act 2001 need to be expedited in view of the increasing number of child abuse cases in the country.
Pukul pelatih: Penyelia, pembantu pusat pemulihan dadah mengaku tidak bersalah
Penyelia dan pembantu sebuah pusat pemulihan dadah mengaku tidak bersalah menyebabkan kecederaan parah terhadap seorang pelatih lelaki.
2 pegawai syarikat pembekalan air direman kes rasuah RM3.3 juta
Perintah reman dikeluarkan Penolong Kanan Pendaftar Puan Nurzihan Abdul Rehman di Mahkamah Majistret, di Johor Bahru, pagi Selasa.
LBS menamatkan kempennya dengan ganjaran RM1.5 juta buat 1,400 pembeli bertuah
LBS Bina Group Berhad (LBS) sebagai pemaju yang mengutamakan pelanggannya telah menamatkan kempen LBS Fabulous Extra yang berjalan sejak 2022 hingga 2023 dengan ganjaran bernilai RM1.5 juta.
Pesawah dituduh buat kenyataan menghasut di WhatsApp
Seorang pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen di sini terhadap tuduhan membuat kenyataan menghasut di menerusi aplikasi WhatsApp pada Selasa.
9 tentera terbunuh nahas helikopter di Colombia
Helikopter itu terputus hubungan dengan pangkalan pada tengah hari dan kemudian didapati terhempas berhampiran daerah Santa Rosa.
Venue Piala Thomas, Uber di Chengdu dilanda 'demam' panda
Yang paling mencuri perhatian ialah magnet peti sejuk yang menampilkan Yu Rong Rong bermain badminton.
Houthi Yaman serang dua kapal pemusnah AS
Houthi berjaya menyasarkan serangan terhadap dua kapal pemusnah AS dan kapal CYCLADES di Laut Merah serta MSC Orion di Lautan Hindi pada awal Selasa.
Ringgit rendah berbanding dolar AS pada awal dagangan
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit merosot kepada 4.7665/7710 berbanding mata wang Amerika Syarikat (AS) daripada 4.7650/7700 semalam.
Bakal jemaah haji OKU syukur dipilih jadi tetamu Allah
Abdul Samad MM Abdul Aziz, 53, yang merupakan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Penglihatan bersyukur dan teruja apabila dipilih seorang daripada 31,600 jemaah haji dari Malaysia tahun ini.
Pendakwa raya ICC temu bual kakitangan hospital di Gaza
Pendakwa raya dari Mahkamah Jenayah Antarabangsa (ICC) telah menemu bual kakitangan dari dua hospital terbesar di Gaza.
"Sea change" needed to achieve goal of ending child marriage by 2030
About 500 delegates from over 70 countries are attending a three-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur, beginning today, to discuss the issue.