Zahid nod for immediate enforcement of amended Child Act

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today called for the immediate gazetting of the parliament-approved Child (Amendment) Bill 2015, saying this was important to curb abuse and sexual exploitation of children in the country.

"The Home Ministry supports the efforts of the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry. The bill should be expedited to become legislation," said Ahmad Zahid, who is also the home minister, when approached at the Parliament lobby.

He was asked to comment on the call by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry for the Bill to be gazetted as soon as possible.

The Bill, passed by Parliament last month, strengthens the legislation and includes a provision on having a registry of sexual offenders.

Several NGOs have also called for the enforcement soon of the amended legislation in the wake of public outrage over the crimes committed by British paedophile Richard Huckle on Malaysian children.