Children need protection from sex offenders, says MP
(FMT) – “As a parent, cases in the country, as well as the recent conviction of a Malaysian scholar in the UK, makes me sick to my stomach.”
The Opposition believes that it’s time that the Government considers setting up a sex offender registry in order to allow law enforcement agencies to monitor and restrict known sex offenders. “It’s time to establish a sex offenders’ registry in Malaysia to protect our children,” said Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari.
“As a parent, cases in the country, as well as the recent conviction of a Malaysian scholar in the UK, makes me sick to my stomach.”
Every right-thinking Malaysian was shocked over news of the conviction of a Malaysian scholar in London for being in possession of some of the most extreme child pornography material the London Metropolitan Police has ever encountered, added Zairil who is DAP Assistant National Publicity Secretary.
“The Math scholar studying at the world-renowned Imperial College was caught in possession of not only more than 30,000 videos and images including abuse involving penetrative sexual activity with children, but also a life-sized mannequin of a young boy.”
It was reported that having rescinded his study loan, he noted, Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has decided to allow the offender to continue his studies in Malaysia after serving his sentence for possession of child pornography. “The reason for this was to allow the student a ‘second chance’.”
While he’s not against efforts towards rehabilitation of an offender, the MP wonders whether any parent would be comfortable knowing that their children would be studying alongside someone convicted of extreme sexual offence. “I agree that people should be given second chances in life, but there should also be a mechanism to ensure that such offenders are kept track of and prevented from any opportunities to commit such crimes again.”
In many countries, he reiterated, such a mechanism takes the form of a sex offender registry that allows law enforcement agencies to monitor and place restrictions on the movements and activities of offenders, depending on their type of offence, sentence-length and risk of recurrence. “Restrictions include limited access to certain locations such as schools or day-care centres, being involved in work with minors, or using the Internet.”
In most countries that maintain a sex offender registry, he continued, information was only available to authorised police personnel and relevant departments that deal with child welfare and education. “Although the registry was made publicly available in the United States, there are disputes as to its effectiveness as an open database, in addition to concerns about the potential violation of civil liberties.”
“It’s time to protect our children.”
Sexual offences are increasingly becoming a scourge in Malaysia, warned Zairil.
