SHAH ALAM, Aug 4 - Approximately 1,845 child rape cases were recorded in Selangor between 2021 and last year, making it the most serious category of child sexual crime, said the state executive councillor for women development and social welfare Anfaal Saari.
The highest number of cases was recorded in 2023, with 397 cases, followed by 389 (2024), 376 (2025), 365 (2022), and 318 (2021).
The second most prevalent child sexual offence was physical sexual assault, with 1,654 cases recorded over the same period, representing a 70 per cent increase since 2021.
"Meanwhile, there were 156 cases of non-physical sexual assault, 42 cases involving possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and 24 cases involving the production or distribution of CSAM.
"This increase has also been consistent year after year. While this is deeply concerning, the rising number of cases also reflects greater public awareness and willingness to report such offences," she said.
Anfaal was responding to Sungai Ramal state assemblyman Mohd Shafie Ngah's query during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting today.
She added that the increase in cases should serve as a wake-up call for elected representatives to play a more active role by urging community leaders and representatives to be more vigilant.
"I believe the observation by Sungai Ramal that 20 per cent of child sexual crimes occur in schools is extremely worrying, and I think it requires comprehensive cooperation as well as a government-led approach. Responsibility cannot rest solely with educators.
"Yet we must also involve the wider community and social media influencers, who should be producing educational content rather than exploiting children as a means of attracting attention.
"This is a wake-up call for all of us, and elected representatives should encourage the entire community to play its part together," Anfaal said.
