PUTRAJAYA 14 May – Parents are advised not only to be Internet savvy but to monitor the technology and the latest apps used in communication to keep abreast of their children’s activities.
Minister of Women, Family and Community, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said parents should be aware of the latest communication technology due to the prevalence of child sex abuse cases and “sexual grooming” found on the Internet today.
“Children are very vulnerable to be lured and sexually abused by “personalities” on the Internet who claimed to be their friends and peer groups. Giving presents and luring them (child) with the food they like frequently end up with sexual abuse,” she said.
“Sexual grooming” is touching and befriending children as a prelude to sexual abuse and spells out penalties for making and possessing pornography involving those under 18.
Relating to the Review Index Family Welfare Malaysia 2016, Rohani said, three indicators which include communication application influence, short message services (SMS) and telephone calls and control on the usage of communication technology from the family domain and communication technology has resulted a score of 6.38 out of 10 influences on the children’s development today
Rohani said that during her speech in conjunction with The National Mother’s Day Celebration 2017, at Alamanda Shopping Centre, here today.
She also reminded, under the Sexual Offences against Children law, the maximum penalty is a jail term of up to 30 years and six strokes – for possessing or distributing child pornography.
On the issue of working parents not being able to monitor the development of their children, Rohani said, the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) under Director General Datuk Dr. Siti Norlasiah Ismail, has conducted “Parents at Work” programmes over the years.
She said, for 2016, 58 companies involving 64 programmes and 2,089 participants had benefitted from such programme.
On the development of the 12-year-old student who hanged himself at his home in Felda Cahaya Baru, Masai Johor recently, Rohani said, since this is a police case, they have brought us together and the ministry has engaged child psychiatrists and child experts to study the case.
She added, the ministry is also trying to provide ways to make the existing child law more complete and comprehensive.
–Malaysia World News
