Rising child sex crimes to be tackled with multi-agency strategy, says Zahid
In a statement following the second 2025 meeting of the National Social Council, Zahid said the government will implement an integrated approach involving the Home Affairs Ministry, the police, the Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to address this issue firmly, comprehensively, and effectively.
Zahid cited worrying statistics showing a 53.2 per cent rise in child sexual crimes from 2,541 cases in 2020 to 3,892 in 2024. The number of victims also jumped by 55.7 per cent, from 2,561 to 3,988 in the same period.
He said that technological advances have allowed for more sophisticated criminal methods, including deepfake technology and identity theft, necessitating stronger inter-agency coordination and digital awareness strategies.
Among the key measures that will be undertaken includes the hosting of a "Child Protection Seminar: Tackling Cyber Threats and Sexual Crimes" scheduled for November, as part of the government's commitment to preventive and educational initiatives.
The meeting also reviewed implementation progress for the National Social Policy (DSN) 2030 and its accompanying Action Plan for 2026–2030, which Zahid said will be submitted to the Cabinet in October.
Beyond crime prevention, the council also endorsed several long-term reforms, including a taskforce to set up psychiatric nursing homes for homeless individuals with untreated mental health conditions and a special committee to oversee preschool Islamic education nationwide.
To address graduate underemployment, Zahid said the MyMAHIR programme, led by the Human Resources Ministry and TalentCorp, had approved 66 industry-led training programmes across high-impact sectors.
These include semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the green economy, offering starting salaries between RM3,000 and RM6,000 per month.
"The implementation of DSN 2030 must be driven in a targeted and high-impact manner, with regular monitoring, measurable impact, and high accountability from all agencies," Zahid concluded.
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