©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)
by FAIRUZ MOHD SHAHAR
PUTRAJAYA: There is an urgent need to expedite the creation of a sex offenders registry in Malaysia to more easily monitor the movements of convicted sex criminals, said the Women, Family and Community Ministry.
It said the existing Child Act (Amendment) 2016 (A1511 Act) contains the functions of a child registry and comprises a list of children in need of protection, care and rehabilitation; as well as the details of convicts who have committed crimes against children, allowing for screenings to be conducted on individuals applying to work in an environment in which children are present, as an added safety measure.
“The child registry enables employers (looking to fill the positions of) child caretakers, (school) canteen operators, school bus drivers or security guards at schools and child care centres to check if the prospective employee (has a) criminal record against children, especially sexual crimes.
“This is a preventive measure to ensure that kids are not exposed to offenders, and also reduces the risk of repeat criminal offences against children.
“The functions are different from the proposed sexual offenders registry under the Registration of Criminals and Undesirable Persons Act 1969 [Act 7], which is under the purview of the Home Ministry,” the ministry said in a statement today.
It pointed out that the child registry under the A1511 Act was implemented through a different body – the Community Welfare Department. The ministry said anyone may apply to the Community Welfare Department’s director–general to check the names and information of those listed in the child registry.
“As a ministry responsible to protect the welfare of children, (we are) always committed to ensure the safety of this group,” the statement said.
The call to expedite the formation of the sex offenders registry is made in advance of the return of Malaysian serial rapist Selva Kumar Subbiah, who has been released after serving his 24–year sentence in Canada.
He is expected to arrive in Malaysia tomorrow night.
Selva Kumar was convicted in two separate trials, more than two decades ago, of drugging and sexually assaulting 30 women in the Toronto area.