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New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Rising child sex crimes to be tackled with multi-agency strategy, says Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will adopt a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to address the rise in child sexual crimes and other complex social issues, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced today. 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.
The Sun
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Government to adopt integrated approach to tackle child sexual crimes
PETALING JAYA: The government will implement a whole-of-government strategy to address the alarming rise in child sexual crimes, as Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) revealed that such cases surged by over 50% in just four years. Citing official statistics, Ahmad Zahid said reported child sexual offences rose from 2,541 cases in 2020 to 3,892 cases in 2024, an increase of 53.2%. He revealed that the number of victims also grew from 2,561 to 3,988, marking a 55.7% jump. 'Technological advancements and the industrial revolution have introduced more sophisticated criminal methods, including deepfake technology and digital identity theft. 'In response, the government will implement an integrated approach involving the Home Ministry, the police, Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to address this issue comprehensively and effectively,' he said in a statement after chairing the second National Social Council (MSN) meeting in 2025 on Tuesday (July 29). He said among the initiatives planned is the Children's Protection Seminar: Addressing Cyber Threats and Sexual Crimes, which will be held in November. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the National Social Policy (DSN) 2030 and progress on its Action Plan 2026–2030, which Ahmad Zahid said is now in its final phase and will be presented to the Cabinet in October. 'The DSN 2030 is the umbrella policy that harmonises 44 national social policies. Its action plan must be executed in a targeted and high-impact manner, with regular monitoring, impact measurement, and high accountability from all agencies,' he said. He said the council also examined several social challenges, including the plight of mentally ill homeless individuals who have slipped through the cracks of mental health intervention due to the lack of dedicated facilities. 'We support the Health Ministry's initiative to establish a taskforce to build psychiatric nursing care homes,' Ahmad Zahid said. Another key proposal discussed was the formation of a Special Committee on National Preschool Islamic Education, aimed at streamlining issues related to registration, safety, health, curriculum strategy, and teaching personnel - a step Ahmad Zahid described as crucial in strengthening early childhood education systems. The meeting also addressed graduate skill mismatch, with Ahmad Zahid highlighting a Statistics Department's report that showed 2.06 million graduates currently working in jobs that do not match their qualifications. 'To resolve this strategically, the Human Resources Ministry and TalentCorp have launched the MyMahir initiative,' he said. So far, he said 66 industry-based training programmes have been approved under the Future Skills Talent Council, covering high-impact sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the green economy. 'These programmes offer not only high-skill training but also job guarantees, with average starting salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM6,000 per month,' he added.
The Star
a day ago
- Politics
- The Star
Govt to adopt integrated approach to tackle rising child sexual crimes, says Ahmad Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will implement a whole-of-government strategy to address the alarming rise in child sexual crimes, with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi revealing that such cases surged by over 50% in just four years. Citing official statistics, Ahmad Zahid said reported child sexual offences rose from 2,541 cases in 2020 to 3,892 cases in 2024, an increase of 53.2%. He revealed that the number of victims also grew from 2,561 to 3,988, marking a 55.7% jump. "This upward trend is deeply concerning. The evolution of technology and the industrial revolution have introduced more sophisticated criminal methods, including deepfake technology and digital identity theft. "To tackle this issue comprehensively and effectively, the government will adopt an integrated approach involving the Home Ministry, the police, Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry," he said in a statement after chairing the second National Social Council (MSN) meeting for 2025 on Tuesday (July 29). He said among the initiatives planned is the Children's Protection Seminar: Addressing Cyber Threats and Sexual Crimes, which will be held in November. Ahmad Zahid stressed that MSN remains a critical platform for coordinating cross-ministerial social policy implementation in line with the Madani government's commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous society. "To strengthen the impact of policy implementation, MSN membership has now been expanded to include strategic ministries such as the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories)," he said. The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the National Social Policy (DSN) 2030 and progress on its Action Plan 2026–2030, which Ahmad Zahid said is now in its final phase and will be presented to the Cabinet in October. "The DSN 2030 is the umbrella policy that harmonises 44 national social policies. Its action plan must be executed in a targeted and high-impact manner, with regular monitoring, impact measurement, and high accountability from all agencies," he said. He said the council also examined several social challenges, including the plight of mentally ill homeless individuals who have slipped through the cracks of mental health intervention due to the lack of dedicated facilities. "We support the Health Ministry's initiative to establish a taskforce to build psychiatric nursing care homes," Ahmad Zahid said. Another key proposal discussed was the formation of a Special Committee on National Preschool Islamic Education, aimed at streamlining issues related to registration, safety, health, curriculum strategy, and teaching personnel - a step Ahmad Zahid described as crucial in strengthening early childhood education systems. The meeting also addressed graduate skill mismatch, with Ahmad Zahid highlighting a Statistics Department's report that showed 2.06 million graduates currently working in jobs that do not match their qualifications. "To resolve this strategically, the Human Resources Ministry and TalentCorp have launched the MyMahir initiative," he said. So far, he said 66 industry-based training programmes have been approved under the Future Skills Talent Council, covering high-impact sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the green economy. "These programmes offer not only high-skill training but also job guarantees, with average starting salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM6,000 per month," Ahmad Zahid said.
The Star
5 days ago
- General
- The Star
Run for Peace spreads to 23 locations nationwide
THE biennial Run for Peace (RFP) will return this September across 23 locations nationwide, calling for all to unite for peace, sustainability and climate action. Organised by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) since 2005, the non-competitive event has drawn over 400,000 cumulative participants to date. Aimed at being a nationwide grassroots movement to promote a culture of peace, unity and sustainable living, the event is supported by Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Unity Ministry. Soka Gakkai International founding president, the late Daisaku Ikeda once said, 'Nothing is more precious than peace. Nothing brings more happiness.' This year's slogan 'Peace Starts with Me – ActNOW for SDGs!' calls for participants to make everyday choices that reflect care for the planet and one another. Several initiatives have been introduced to reduce the event's environmental impact, including The Sustainable T-Shirt Initiative where participants are encouraged to reuse their T-shirts from the 2023 edition. Also a feature is the Medal-Free Approach, where no medals will be given out to reduce production impact. Under its Waste-Minimising Campaign, participants are urged to bring reusable bottles and eco-bags. Recycling stations will be set up at venues. Beyond the run, there will be gotong-royong clean-ups, blood donation drives, SDG exhibitions and recycling workshops to reinforce the event's message. The event is open to those aged seven to 80. Registration fee is between RM20 and RM40 per participant. For details visit
The Star
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Ministry boost women's football with RM840,000 grant
PETALING JAYA: The Youth and Sports Ministry have pledged RM840,000 to support the National Women's League, reinforcing their commitment to growing the game in Malaysia. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced the grant during the league's official launch at Saloma, Kuala Lumpur on Thursday (July 24). The league, jointly organised by the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and Sports Media Inc., feature eight teams battling for national honours. "This initiative is key to building an inclusive and competitive football ecosystem and paving the way for Malaysia's presence on the international stage," said Hannah. The 2025 season introduces a major boost in quality with each team allowed to register two foreign players. 'This move will elevate the standard of play and give our local players vital international exposure," said FAM's women committee chairperson Datuk Suraya Yaacob. The league began on July 12 with Kelana United held to a 1-1 draw by Red Eagles. A total of 56 matches will be played this season.
