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The Star
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Govt acts on child protection
KUALA LUMPUR: The government is intensifying efforts to safeguard children from sexual crimes through legislative improvements and more comprehensive implementation strategies. These include amendments to the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, the expansion of special criminal courts and ongoing training for legal officers, said Thiyagu Ganesan, deputy director-general (Legal Reform Sector) of the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) under the Prime Minister's Department. He said several key amendments were made to the Act in 2023, which include replacing the term 'child pornography' with 'child sexual abuse material', introducing new offences such as the livestreaming of sexual crimes and sexual extortion, and mandating compensation for victims. 'Additionally, the government has recently passed the Online Safety Act, which places the responsibility on digital platforms to remove child sexual abuse content. 'It also introduces the safety-by-design concept to ensure a safer online environment for children,' he said during an interview on Bernama TV's Apa Khabar Malaysia programme yesterday, as reported by Bernama. To broaden access to justice for victims, Thiyagu noted that the number of Special Courts for Sexual Crimes Against Children has been increased to 81 nationwide, along with the introduction of child-friendly mobile courts. 'These mobile courts are equipped with a child witness room and will travel to where the child is located, eliminating the need for the child to travel to a physical courtroom, which may be distressing,' he said. Thiyagu also underscored the importance of specialised training for prosecutors, judges and lawyers to improve the handling of child-related cases, in line with the 2023 legal reforms regulating the manner in which child witnesses are examined, cross-examined and re-examined in court. He said the BHEUU is actively expanding awareness campaigns related to Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act, which mandates all individuals to report suspected cases of child sexual crimes to the authorities. Touching on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Act, he said amendments in 2023 led to the creation of a full-time position for a chief children's commissioner, along with two children's commissioners and one additional commissioner, all dedicated to strengthening oversight of government policies related to child protection. 'Their role is to provide assistance, commentary and recommendations on government plans and policies, as well as to announce improvements. 'If issues arise, they will actively speak out to ensure continuous progress,' he added.
The Star
23-04-2025
- Climate
- The Star
DBKL to initiate flood-mitigation efforts in several areas in capital city
IN the wake of flash floods across the capital city, Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is rolling out a series of measures aimed at reducing risk in future. According to DBKL, flood mitigation measures would be carried out in several areas of Kuala Lumpur including upgrading of drainage systems and water outlets in the affected areas. Regular silt dredging will also be carried out to ensure smooth drainage flow. 'Further investigations are being conducted in collaboration with the relevant departments and agencies to identify additional contributing factors, such as soil or mud flow from hilly areas. 'DBKL remains committed to improving the efficiency of the city's drainage system through the ongoing implementation of the Medium-Term Flood Mitigation Programme,' it said in a statement. This follows flash floods in the city on Monday at several areas, including Jalan Sultan (Petaling Street), the slip road from Jalan Travers to Jalan Damansara, Jalan Kuching and Jalan Segambut. 'The main cause of the incident was identified as a high rate of surface runoff within a short period. 'This was compounded by the existing drainage system reaching its maximum capacity. 'River overflow also triggered the automatic closure of flap gates to prevent river water from entering the surrounding drainage system. 'Immediate action was taken by DBKL's appointed contractors to clear drains of debris, dry leaves, sand and silt,' it said, adding that continuous monitoring was also being carried out via the CCTV system. DBKL said as a result of this swift response, water in all affected locations receded within 30 to 40 minutes, with no injuries or serious damage reported. 'We urge all city residents to refrain from disposing of waste into drains and to promptly report any drainage blockages to DBKL for immediate action,' it added. In Parliament last year, it was reported that two of the 14 flood-mitigation projects in the city, to deal with the flash floods, had been completed. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said seven flood mitigation projects were completed in 2022 and 2023. She added that from 2025 to 2027, four more projects were being planned to enhance flood resilience in Kuala Lumpur.
