KUCHING: The increase in the number of sexual crime victims shows that more and more of them as well as their relatives or friends, are brave to come forward to demand justice.
This also shows that the people are now much more aware of sexual crimes which are increasing day by day.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing, Datuk Hajah Fatimah Abdullah said the increase was according to the sexual crime statistics presented by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the Child Sexual Crime Forum held at Riverside Majestic Hotel here, yesterday.
She said that with growing awareness among the people, more cases could be identified and the perpetrators could be brought to justice.
“Previously, submitting reports would be a burden for the victim as they would be bombarded with questions as opposed to the perpetrators, who would not receive such treatment.
“Furthermore, there is also a stigma issue. However, I am grateful that now with greater awareness, victims will be treated fairly and with respect and integrity. Therefore, they are braver now to come forward to report what has happened to them,” said Fatimah.
She also said that in the past, many sexual crime cases were not attended to accordingly while at the same time, the investigation processes could be a nightmare for the victims.
“Now, we have a better approach to handle cases. We should not add to the trauma experienced by the victims, but rather we should give them empathy,” she said.
Fatimah pointed out that a fast, efficient and precise action in handling sexual crime cases was now being carried out, involving all agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) so that cases could be handled straight on once identified or reported.
The panel members of the forum comprised state CID Chief SAC Dato’ Dev Kumar, DSP Saroja Egamparam from Bukit Aman’s Sexual, Abuse and Children Department (D11), Director of Welfare Department (Children’s Department) Arfan Sulaiman and Head of Unit/Senior Assistant Parliamentary Draftsman, Siti Illyana Mohd Nawi.
