Five laws being reviewed to plug loopholes on child porn
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said the laws that could potentially be amended include the Film Censorship Act 2002, Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, Evidence Act 1950 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
"We recognise that changes are occurring, which is why the police are committed to strengthening enforcement against child sexual exploitation crimes, especially those involving the possession, distribution, or production of child pornography.
"These crimes are not only abhorrent but also have long-term impacts on the physical and psychological wellbeing of victims," he said," he said during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat.
The potential amendments to the Film Censorship Act 2002 are to prohibit the possession of child pornography in any form, including digital, and to increase the penalties, while amendments to the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 aim to expand the definition of "publication" to include the digital dissemination of child sexual exploitation content and impose stricter penalties.
Meanwhile, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 could be strengthened to expand definitions, international jurisdiction, and provide for harsher penalties for repeat offenders.
"The Evidence Act 1950 could be strengthened to include the admissibility of digital evidence and reports such as CyberTipline, which is an online reporting channel established by the National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the United States, to receive complaints related to online child sexual exploitation.
"The Penal Code could be expanded to include the definition of offences related to digital sexual exploitation and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 could be enhanced by tightening controls and monitoring of online distribution of child sexual exploitation material by platform providers," he said.
He said the police had investigated 287 cases related to the production, possession, distribution, access, downloading, and uploading of child pornography under Sections 4 to 10 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 between 2021 and June 2025.
Of these 287 cases, or about 90 per cent, have resulted in prosecution and conviction.
He was responding to supplementary questions by Datuk Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) and Datuk Abd Ghani Ahmad (PN-Jerlun), who asked about the matter.
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