KUALA TERENGGANU – The sharp rise in cases of sexual abuse involving children in the country has sparked serious concern, with statistics showing an alarming upward trend over the past several years.
Based on data under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792), the number of reported cases surged from 903 in 2018 to 1,959 cases in 2024.
Meanwhile, in the fourth quarter of 2025 alone, the Social Welfare Department recorded 1,575 child abuse cases, including sexual abuse.
The reality inside counselling rooms reveals a bitter truth when child sexual predators or paedophiles are not merely external threats, but are often individuals who are trusted, respected and close to the victims.
Nuur Counselling & Training Centre xecutive manager and registered counsellor Mahirah A Rashid said official statistics may only reflect a small fraction of the true scale of the problem due to the “wall” preventing victims from coming forward.
“Many cases never reach police stations or the courts because families want to protect their dignity and the victim’s reputation, while some deliberately shield the perpetrators.
“In counselling rooms, victims often question themselves, feel worthless and ‘dirty’ because of the trauma they endured. Even more heartbreaking, some choose to remain silent to preserve family harmony,” she said.
Mahirah said today’s social environment and rapid digital development have created wider opportunities for such crimes.
She said predators typically do not resort to violence in the early stages, but instead build trust through attention and gifts.
“In the era of social media, grooming can happen without physical contact. Children may feel they are simply talking to someone who understands them, when in reality they are being psychologically trapped through a phone screen,” she said.
She added that neurological factors, childhood trauma and self-control issues may contribute to someone becoming a paedophile, but stressed that these are not justifications for such acts.
She said one of the biggest challenges in addressing the issue is families choosing to hide cases out of fear of social stigma.
“Pressuring victims to withdraw police reports or to ‘just forget about it’ in order to protect the family’s name only gives predators the opportunity to remain free and seek new victims.
“Society’s silence ultimately becomes the strongest shield for predators. When the perpetrator is an influential figure, victims face double pressure and are often labelled as ‘family destroyers’ for speaking out,” she stressed.
She also highlighted the importance of age-appropriate sexual education to teach children about personal boundaries and their right to speak up.
“Laws alone are not enough if the culture of silence remains deeply rooted. Parents must build relationships based on trust and healthy communication so children feel safe sharing anything suspicious.
“The courage to speak, listen and act is the main defence in creating a safe environment for Malaysian children,” she said.