KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 5,519 cases were charged under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 972) from 2018 to January this year, the Dewan Rakyat heard today.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said from the amount, 4,713 cases (85.4 per cent) had been resolved while 3,060 (55.4 per cent) were going through the courts.
Following this, she said the government was committed to amending the act, along with the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007, to improve the existing provisions.
"However, legal methods alone are not enough to curb sexual offences against children.
"All steps taken to prevent sexual crimes against children should be child friendly.
"This includes from the reporting stage to the authorities, the investigation process and court proceedings.
"This is important so we can get the best evidence from child witnesses and to reduce their trauma and stigma."
Azalina said this in response to a question from Young Syefura Othman (Pakatan Harapan-Bentong) on the number of sexual offences against children reported, prosecuted and solved since the act came into force.