KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia has made progress in raising awareness about child abuse, but cultural stigma and reluctance to report crimes continue to leave many children vulnerable, says former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the 'Safe Child, Strong Nation' campaign on Monday, Khairy said reports related to child safety continue to emerge at an alarming rate.
“Currently, there is a report related to child safety every 90 minutes. While awareness has improved, I do not think it is enough,” he said.
Khairy said one of the biggest challenges remains the reluctance of families to report abuse due to shame, fear of damaging family reputations and a lack of knowledge about available support systems.
He noted that abuse often occurs within the child's immediate circle, making detection and intervention more difficult.
“If the perpetrator is a family member, many people prefer to keep it quiet because they do not want to expose family problems.
“But we must recognise that abuse is a crime. Regardless of who commits it, there must be investigation and justice,” he said.
Khairy also warned that social media has created new risks for children, exposing them to harmful content and making them more susceptible to predators.
He said child protection should begin with education, not only for children but also for adults.
“We need to teach children from a young age about personal boundaries, safe spaces and inappropriate behaviour so they can recognise when something is wrong and seek help,” he said.
At the same time, he urged communities to play a more active role in safeguarding children.
“Creating a safe environment is everyone's responsibility. It is not about being nosy, but about caring enough to pay attention when there are signs that something may be wrong,” he said.
Khairy said conversations about child abuse, particularly sexual crimes involving children, remain taboo in parts of Malaysian society despite several high-profile cases in recent years.
“It is time for us to speak openly about these issues. Child abuse exists in Malaysia and we should not dismiss reports or pretend it is not happening,” he said.
Khairy was among several prominent Malaysian figures supporting Children's Protection Society Malaysia's (CPSM) newly launched nationwide campaign to strengthen child protection efforts.
The 'Safe Child, Strong Nation' campaign seeks to raise awareness on issues such as child abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying and online harm through public education programmes and community outreach initiatives throughout 2026.
Built around four key pillars, Protect, Empower, Educate and Report, the campaign aims to equip children, parents, educators and communities with the knowledge and confidence to recognise risks, intervene early and create safer environments for children.
The initiative will also bring together voices from sports, entertainment, business and media, including Datuk Nicol David, Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim, Khairy and Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, to champion child safety awareness nationwide.
Meanwhile, CPSM founder and president Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff Mushir Ariff said communication between parents and children remains one of the strongest forms of protection against abuse.
He urged parents to spend time speaking with their children daily, regardless of how busy they may be.
“If children are comfortable talking to their parents, they are more likely to share problems or experiences that concern them.
“Parents must not leave responsibility for their children's welfare entirely to teachers, relatives or other people. They must stay involved,” he said.
Nazir also highlighted several warning signs adults should pay attention to, including children becoming withdrawn, refusing to communicate or isolating themselves for long periods.
“When children no longer want to talk and constantly push people away, those can be signals that something is wrong,” he said.
Both Khairy and Nazir agreed that tackling child abuse requires a combination of awareness, education, open communication and community involvement.
They stressed that protecting children is not solely the responsibility of authorities but a collective duty shared by families, schools and society as a whole.