Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today officiated the special criminal court to handle sexual crimes against children at the Palace of Justice, here.

The setting up of the court is in tandem with the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 passed by Parliament in April.

“For now, the special criminal court will handle cases happening in Selangor, Federal Territory Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

“InsyaAllah, we will extend the establishment of this court to all 13 states throughout Malaysia," he said after officiating the new court located at the lower court building of the Palace of Justice.

Also present, the Prime Minister's wife, who is also PERMATA Patron, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Chief Justice Tan Sri Md Raus Sharif.

Najib said the court would focus on cases such as pornography, child grooming and child sexual assault in accordance with the act which would be enforced soon, and the first case was expected to be heard by the court on July 4.

"Of course, the court will be handled by a Senior Session Court Judge who has vast experience in the field of judicial and legislative matters,” he added.

This special court is different from the existing Court for Children which hears cases where the perpetrator of the crime is a child.

“The newly formed special court to handle sexual crimes against children is mainly to discuss on sexual crime cases where the victim is a child.

“Of course, with the existence of this court, it will help to accelerate and ensure smooth proceedings as well as hearings of sexual crime cases which affect children,” he said.

The Prime Minister also suggested that a special guideline should be formulated soon to handle cases of sexual offences against children.

“For this purpose, a working committee involving the court, Attorney General’s Chambers and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and as well as several children NGOs, including UNICEF, needs to be set up to create this special guideline.

"Furthermore, this special guideline should also meet the requirements and needs of a child witness, in accordance with best practices in other countries in the world,” he said.

Placed at the second floor of the Palace of Justice, the facilities provided meet the needs of child witnesses.

It includes Court Recording and Transcription (CRT) facility, child-friendly witness rooms and waiting rooms, equipped with video-link facilities, as well as disabled-friendly tools.

“PERMATA also helps in contributing equipments to the children witness and waiting rooms," Najib added.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported Md Raus saying, 56 existing cases at the Kuala Lumpur, Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya sessions courts would be brought to the special court.

He also said that a former judge of the Klang Sessions Court had been appointed to hear cases at the special court, and the first case to be heard on July 4 involved rape.

"The performance of this special court will be constantly monitored. I hope all involved would extend their undivided cooperation to ensure that the objective of setting up this special court is achieved," he said.

Md Raus said there were plans to have similar special courts in Johor, Penang and Selangor at the end of this year or next year.

He said a study would be conducted based on the statistics of the reported sexual crimes against children to identify the needs of the other states.