Kuala Lumpur:Protect and Save The Children Malaysia (PS the Children) has expressed support for the government's initiative to enhance police capabilities in combating online child sexual exploitation as outlined in Budget 2027. However, the organization is advocating for dedicated and transparent funding specifically for child protection efforts.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, PS the Children emphasized the need for investment in detection capabilities to be complemented by measures aimed at preventing abuse, encouraging reporting, and supporting survivors. Amnani Abdul Kadir, the executive director of the organization, highlighted the importance of upgrading the Royal Malaysia Police's (PDRM) D11 division, which handles sexual crimes involving women and children, as a crucial step in preventing further abuse.

Amnani Abdul Kadir noted, "We thank the government for putting online child sexual exploitation squarely on the national agenda. Upgrading D11's detection capability is exactly the kind of investment that can stop a predator before he reaches the next child. But technology alone cannot protect a child who does not know that what is happening to her is abuse, or who has no one safe to tell. Prevention, reporting and recovery must be funded with the same seriousness as enforcement."

PS the Children has urged the government to allocate dedicated funding for child protection, including for D11, the Children's Commissioner, and child protection services under the Social Welfare Department (JKM), to facilitate the monitoring of annual progress. The organization also called for compulsory, age-appropriate online safety education for children, parents, and teachers to help recognize and report online grooming, sextortion, and image-based abuse.

Furthermore, the organization stressed the need for digital platforms to be accountable under the Online Safety Act for the prompt removal of child sexual abuse material and the detection of grooming behavior. It also advocated for increased investment in trauma-informed counseling, child-friendly courts, and specialist investigators in every state to support survivors.

PS the Children also recommended strengthening background checks for caregivers, teachers, and coaches working with children, alongside the introduction of a new caregiver training program. The organization expressed its readiness to collaborate with the government, enforcement agencies, schools, digital platforms, and civil society to ensure that the Budget measures translate into enhanced protection for children, faster access to justice, and real recovery for survivors.

Among the key child protection measures in Budget 2027, which was presented by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat, is an allocation of nearly RM3.3 billion for JKM. The budget also includes upgrading PDRM's Malaysia Internet Crime Against Children (MICAC) system with advanced analytics and a RM100 million matching grant from Yayasan Government-Linked Investment Companies (GLICs) and Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) to strengthen the childcare ecosystem and train 6,000 caregivers across nine states.

Additionally, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will expand its Safe Internet Campaign in schools nationwide, focusing on issues like cyberbullying and child exploitation. Budget 2027 also emphasizes the Anti-Bullying Act, the Online Safety Act, and reforms to criminal and evidence laws to enhance protection for victims, children, and vulnerable groups, along with a strengthened role for the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and the Children's Commissioner.