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KUALA LUMPUR - The Dewan Rakyat today passed the Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026, extending the Act's jurisdiction to cover offences committed outside Malaysia.
The Bill was passed with a majority vote following debate by 25 government and opposition Members of Parliament yesterday.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran said the amendment to expand extraterritorial application will ensure that offenders with ties to Malaysia cannot evade justice simply because their crimes were committed overseas.
Winding up the debate, he clarified that the amendment does not mean Malaysia will automatically assume jurisdiction over all foreign cases; the country where the offence occurred retains primary authority to investigate and prosecute under its own laws.
"If reports are filed in both countries, the authorities will consult and cooperate through international channels to determine the most appropriate action, based on the facts of the case, available evidence, witness locations and the interests of justice," he explained. - BERNAMA
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