Call for mechanism to register, track sex offenders
Published on: Saturday, May 09, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: The government has been urged to set up a mechanism to register and track sex offenders in Malaysia.In a joint statement here Friday, Pacos Trust, Women's Committee of BCCM BM, Karambunai Single Mothers Association and Sabah Women Organisation said it was about time the list be drawn up and made public and people like jailed student, Nur Fitri Azmeer Nordin must be registered on it. "It should be made known to our society that people on such a register are barred for life from working in occupations that put them in direct contact with children such as teachers, in nurseries, as security guards and others.
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"We still don't have such a sex offender registry, and we should set it up now as a matter of priority," they said, in response to the report entitled "Child Porn: Mara Gives Student Second Chance."They have described Mara's handling of Nur Fitri's case who was found guilty of a serious sex offence in London as disappointing and irresponsible. "They did not express their condemnation of the serious crime committed and have given the public the impression that the student made a 'mistake' and hence should be given a second chance. "This shows that these Mara officials do not understand the pernicious nature of child pornography and its link to child sexual abuse and trafficking which has caused untold harm and suffering to millions of innocent and defenseless children globally," they said.
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In Malaysia, child abuse and, in particular, child sexual abuse are on the rise and it is a matter of concern to both the government and the general public. "We are sure Malaysians are still traumatised by the Nurin Jazlin Jazimin case when the eight year old was kidnapped and later found inside a sports bag with her genitals stuffed with cucumber and brinjal and her rectum ruptured.
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"It has been eight years and the authorities still haven't found the monster who did the heinous crime. Why give people like Nur Fitri a second chance with the support of Mara? "Nurin, and many other innocent children did not get a second chance," they said.The organisations claimed that sex offenders particularly paedophiles do not turn over a new leaf just because they were caught in the act. "Studies have shown that most sex offenders do not think that they have done anything wrong and will be repeat offenders once they are released from prison," they said, adding that after the death of Nurin, the then Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Badawi mentioned the setting up of a child sex offenders list. Towards this end, they said sex offenders should be given long term psychiatric counselling and support to prevent them from repeating their offences and to assist those who are sincere in changing their lives. "What kind of rehabilitation work do the authorities do with sex offenders in prison? Do they monitor them once they are out? In Nur Fitri's case, who will ensure that he will continue to receive psychiatric counselling and monitoring once he's back in Malaysia? "If his own family does have the means to provide the help he needs, then perhaps Mara can step in to give Nur Fitri a 'second chance.' Malaysia has invested precious public funds to establish laws and institutional measures to protect children; these efforts need to be supported by all in our society. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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