Kuala lumpur: The government has announced the adoption of an integrated approach involving multiple ministries and agencies to combat the significant surge in sexual crimes against children, which have increased by 53.2 percent over the past four years. Deputy Prime Minister and National Social Council (MSN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized the involvement of the Home Ministry, Royal Malaysia Police, Youth and Sports Ministry, and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to address the issue thoroughly and efficiently.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, statistics reveal a rise in sexual crime cases against children from 2,541 in 2020 to 3,892 in 2024, with the number of victims escalating from 2,561 to 3,988 during the same period, marking a 55.7 percent increase. Ahmad Zahid highlighted that technological advancements have resulted in more complex criminal tactics, including the use of deepfake technology and digital identity theft.
Efforts to tackle these crimes will also include organizing a seminar titled 'Child Protection: Addressing Cyber Threats and Sexual Crimes' in November. The MSN meeting reviewed the National Social Policy 2030 implementation and the development of the 2026-2030 Action Plan, which is in its final stages and will be submitted to the Cabinet in October.
The issue of homeless individuals with untreated mental disorders, due to the lack of special placement facilities, was also addressed. Ahmad Zahid expressed support for the Health Ministry's initiative to form a task force aimed at establishing a psychiatric nursing care home.
Additionally, the meeting considered the creation of a special committee on Islamic preschool education to coordinate registration, safety, health, curriculum, and teaching staff strategies. The skills mismatch among graduates was also examined, with data indicating that 2.06 million graduates are employed in fields not aligned with their qualifications.
To strategically address this, the MyMAHIR initiative, led by the Human Resource Ministry and TalentCorp, has been launched. So far, 66 industry-driven training programs have received approval under the MyMAHIR Future Skills Talent Council, focusing on high-impact sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and the green economy. These programs guarantee job placements with starting salaries ranging from RM3,000 to RM6,000 per month.
Ahmad Zahid announced that the MSN has expanded its membership to include the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) to enhance the impact of policy implementation.