KUALA LUMPUR – In an effort to reduce online abuse and sexual assault against children, the government is reviewing several existing legal provisions to introduce clearer and stronger obligations for parents and guardians.
The move includes proposed amendments to make it mandatory for parents to monitor their children’s online activities and to actively participate in digital safety education programmes, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
“This approach reflects the principle of shared responsibility in safeguarding future generations from the growing threat of sexual crimes in the digital age,” she said in a statement issued today.
Azalina, who is currently on an official visit to Uzbekistan, outlined these plans in her keynote address at the Tashkent Law Spring International Legal Forum 2025, themed Creating a Safer Digital Future: Malaysia’s Legislative Approach to Online Child Protection.
She warned that while technologies such as artificial intelligence bring many benefits, they also pose new risks of exploitation.
“The digital future must not only be smarter but also safer, more humane and fair to all levels of society, especially children,” she was quoted as saying.
Azalina called for international cooperation to combat digital sexual crimes against children, urging the global legal community to “shoulder a shared moral responsibility to ensure that those involved in crimes against children are brought to justice without exception.”
At the forum, she also highlighted Malaysia’s legislative reforms aimed at strengthening online child protection laws and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to justice reform.
During her visit, Azalina held bilateral talks with Uzbekistan’s Justice Minister Akbar Tashkulov. The meeting resulted in both countries agreeing to sign a three-year memorandum of understanding covering the exchange of legal expertise, institutional reform, and strengthening judicial capacity.
She also met with Qatar’s Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, to strengthen strategic legal cooperation, particularly in human rights and justice reform.
In a separate meeting, Azalina received a courtesy visit from the OECD’s division head Tatyana Teplova. Discussions focused on strengthening digital governance and the rule of law. – June 2, 2025
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