LUNDU: Parents and family members are urged to be more vigilant in safeguarding the safety of children following a recent rise in sexual abuse cases involving people close to the victims.
Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) Minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said that families must adopt precautionary measures against incestuous acts and sexual harassment coming from close relatives.
“Recently, we have seen many incidents involving children. So to mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters, please protect your children, who are your own flesh and blood.
“Do not allow situations where fathers abuse children, mothers mistreat children, or siblings harm their own brothers or sisters. Understand what I mean,” she said in her speech when officiating the Gunung Gading 2025 Fiesta at Gunung Gading National Park here today.
Nancy, who is also Santubong Member of Parliament, added that parents should not be complacent and must maintain a sense of caution when children are too close to relatives, even if they are family.
“These days, many frightening things happen. Sometimes we feel comfortable when our children are close to their uncle or father, but we must not take it lightly.
“There must also be a sense of suspicion or caution. Many things we never imagined can occur, and they can ultimately affect the future of our children,” she added.
For the record, one shocking recent case involved a 39-year-old father who was arrested after abandoning a newborn girl at a petrol station in Batu 14, Hulu Langat, Selangor, on August 11.
The man was suspected of committing incest with his 16-year-old daughter, resulting in her giving birth. The newborn was reportedly abandoned and the birth concealed.
According to a report from BERNAMA, Kelantan Police chief, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat, previously said the number of rape and incest cases in Kelantan has shown a significant upward trend each year, with most cases involving consensual relationships.
He said 252 cases were recorded in 2024 compared to 206 in 2023, an increase of 22.3 per cent, and worryingly, some perpetrators were as young as 10 years old.
He added that contributing factors include family conflict, parental negligence, underage romance, and easy access to pornography via mobile phones.
