PARIT:Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Helping Shoulders today urged the government to come down harder to put an end to paedophilia in the country.

Its president Lilarurzaini Mohd Hussain said that till now, Malaysia is seen as treading too carefully and not giving enough attention on enacting laws to provide for stiffer punishment against paedophiles as compared to other Asian countries.

She cited Indonesia as an example saying the neighbour had approved chemical castration of convicted child sex offenders.

“I hope the government will further tighten legislation and impose heavier punishment on convicted paedophiles so that when they are released (from prison), they do not become repeat offenders.

"We will be very happy if the government is willing to work with NGOs to together curb sexual offences against children, which is very worrying,” she said.

She was speaking to reporters after attending a forum organised by the NGO's Perak chapter on the role the community can play in combating paedophilia, at Dewan Datuk Ahamed Hambal, Bota Kanan, here.

Also present were state Youth and Sports, Communications and Multimedia Committee chairman Khairul Sharil Mohamed and National Population and Family Development Board chairman Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria , who is also the Member of Parliament for Parit.

Lilarurzaini also said that the NGO hoped that studies on paedophilia can be introduced in early education sylabbi so that children are aware of the situation.

-- BERNAMA