PETALING JAYA: The number of sexual assault incidents against children saw a significant increase of 21%, says the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
"Physical sexual assault on a child in 2023 recorded a significant increase of 21.1% with 1,389 cases compared to 1,147 cases in 2022," the nation's chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said in a press statement on Friday (Nov 1).
Additionally, a total of 1,567 cases of children involved in sexual offences were recorded by the police last year.
He said that the number of sexual offences involving children reported to the Royal Malaysia Police increased by 26.5 per cent in 2023, totalling 1,567 cases, compared with 1,239 cases in the previous year.
Mohd Uzir added that 91 non-physical sexual assault on a child and 67 child pornography offences were recorded last year.
The DOSM's report on children was based on selected statistics on population, health, education, child protection and children involved in crime.
These statistics are among the indicators used in measuring the children’s quality of life and well-being in accordance with the concepts and guidelines recommended by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
Meanwhile, on child child protection, Mohd Uzir said that the number of children in need of care and protection had also increased last year by 26.1% to 8,536 children compared to 6,770 children in 2022 according to the Social Welfare Department's record.
"There were more girls in need of care and protection, totalling 5,418 girls compared to 3,118 boys.
"However, boys in need of care and protection recorded a higher increase of 26.4% compared to girls with a 25.9% increase for the same period," he added.
