Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 is landmark legislation - Lee Lam Thye

The Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017, which was tabled in Parliament yesterday is a landmark legislation that seeks to eradicate child sexual crimes.

As such, Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye expects everyone to support the tabling of the bill because it is important to address sexual exploitation and violence against the group.

"The proposed legislation can only be executed if all levels of the community provide support.

"They also need to play a role in assisting the authorities detain and prosecute offenders in a special court for such cases," he said in a statement today.

Lee said that the support given by Barisan Nasional and opposition members of Parliament also proved they could work together and lead such initiatives in the future, benefiting the community.

The bill, presented by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, stipulates that any person who makes, produces, directs the manufacture or production of child pornography is punishable by an imprisonment term not exceeding 30 years and will receive not less than six strokes of the cane, if convicted.

-- BERNAMA