NGO CALLS FOR TOUGHER LAWS, COORDINATED TASK FORCE TO TACKLE ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- The alarming surge in online child sexual abuse has prompted calls for tougher laws, faster prosecution and a coordinated national task force to tackle the problem.

Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the rapid surge is a national crisis that cannot be tolerated or downplayed, stressing that every exploitative image, video or message involving a child represents a life violated and a future damaged.

As digital platforms grow, he said, predators have become more sophisticated — using social media, gaming platforms, encrypted apps, and AI-generated content to target children.

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“This issue demands a whole-of-nation approach. Firstly, stronger laws and stricter enforcement are essential. Online child sexual abuse must be met with heavier penalties, faster prosecution, and improved investigative capabilities. 

“Agencies must be equipped with advanced digital forensics tools to track offenders, including those hiding behind VPNs (virtual private networks), anonymous accounts, and cross-border networks.

“Secondly, the government should establish a National Online Safety Task Force bringing together police, CyberSecurity Malaysia, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, Education Ministry, Social Welfare Department, and NGOs,” he said in a statement today.

The coordinated approach, he said, will ensure quicker response to reports, real-time information sharing, and consistent monitoring of emerging threats.

At the same time, Lee said platforms must implement stronger age-verification systems, proactive detection of grooming behaviours, and mandatory reporting of suspected child exploitation.

“They must not wait until abuse goes viral before taking action,” he said, adding that children and parents must be empowered through education, with schools integrating online safety into the curriculum, including recognising grooming, avoiding risky online interactions and using safe reporting channels.

Parents, he said, need practical guidance to monitor digital habits and identify warning signs early, noting that awareness cannot be optional and every household must understand the risks.

Lee also called for expanded psychological and social support for victims, ensuring immediate counselling, long-term therapy and full privacy protection, stressing that survivors should never feel ashamed as responsibility lies solely with perpetrators.

“Community leaders, teachers, tech companies, law enforcement, and parents must stand united. Malaysia cannot allow its children to be preyed upon in the digital world. Their safety is a collective responsibility, and their protection must be our top priority,” he said.

-- BERNAMA