PUTRAJAYA: Allegations of pornography videos involving schoolchildren will be given serious attention through a collaboration of several ministries.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek (pic) said her ministry is working with all relevant parties, including the Home, Communications as well as Women, Family and Community Development ministries to tackle the matter.Her response came following recent media reports on the easy accessibility of child sexual abuse material in Malaysia.
According to the reports, what was once hidden on the dark web is now being openly traded on social media for as little as RM1.
Fadhlina said any complaints or allegations related to this issue must follow the proper procedures set by authorities.
“We treat this matter with the utmost seriousness and are responsible for ensuring that our children remain protected, especially those at the school level.
“I will follow up on it from time to time,” she told reporters after her ministry’s final monthly assembly of the year yesterday.
Fadhlina also said the ministry had conducted advocacy through awareness and warning programmes to ensure that children are kept safe from exposure to pornography.
“If there is any (follow-up), the discussion will only involve our peers at the ministry level and the authorities to ensure the case is contained in terms of safety, as it involves schoolchildren,” she said.On another matter, she announced that her ministry will present a report on improvements to the Supplementary Food Programme (RMT) on March 1 next year.
She said the report aims to assess the effectiveness of the RMT, including its cost, in ensuring that children from the B40 group receive the nutrition they need.
“We are working with the Health Ministry to ensure that the menu meets all nutritional requirements,” she said.
Additionally, Fadhlina announced that the proposed amendment to the Education Act 1996 (Act 550) to make secondary education compulsory is expected to be tabled in the next parliamentary meeting in February next year.
The Education Ministry, she said, has submitted the Bill concerned to the Attorney General’s Chambers for review.
Fadhlina added that the Bill is crucial to the ministry’s preparedness in managing the situation of children who may leave school earlier than others in the future.
“These children may find the job market more rewarding, but they also face different barriers compared with those who continue with their education.
“Our challenge is to keep on convincing parents that education will transform their lives and the lives of their children.
“This compulsory secondary education policy reflects our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind, even at the upper secondary level,” she said.
She said this will extend the compulsory primary education policy, in effect since 2003, with significant amendments to Act 550.
Separately, Fadhlina dismissed claims circulating via Telegram that the 2024 Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia English Language oral test paper had been leaked.
She said the ministry had investigated the allegations and found no evidence to classify it as a “leak”.
