Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the sentence imposed on the father who pleaded guilty to 623 charges of sexual crimes including sodomy on his daughter should be a lesson to child sexual offenders.

Rohani said the sentence would hopefully stop them from continuing to commit the despicable act.

"Hopefully this sentence will be a lesson to all concerned to stop their despicable acts.

"Once it reaches the courts, we will make sure that they get the appropriate punishment," she told reporters after following the sentencing of the unit trust agent who was charged with 623 counts of raping, sodomising and commiting sexual acts on his 15-year-old daughter.

Judge Yong Zarida Sazali on Friday meted a sentence of 48 years' jail and 24 strokes of the cane as well as 240 hours of community service for six months, 10 years of counselling session and three years of police surveillance on the 36-year-old accused.

Rohani said children and youths must be equipped with sex education and children's rights to enable them to recognise and protect themselves from wrongful sexual acts.

She said members of the community must also play their part including lodging reports if they have information on such cases through the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline or directly to the authorities.

"The ministry would continue to work to provide advocacy and awareness initiatives and programmes for parents and children such as the Sahabat B.I.J.A.K 'Safe and Protect' campaign

"We at the ministry will always do the best, if we feel we have to amend an act, we will do it in order to give full protection and justice to children," she said. -- BERNAMA