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Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Borneo Post
Sharing child sexual abuse material online a heinous crime, says activist
While technology has brought countless benefits, it has also become a breeding ground for exploitation. — AI Image KUALA LUMPUR (July 18): In today's hyperconnected world, where a single click can spread content across continents in seconds, a dark reality lurks behind the screens: the rampant and often overlooked crime of child sexual abuse material (CSAM). While society debates technology regulation and social media responsibility, the real victims are the children who remain shrouded in silence and pain. 'The act of sharing and resharing CSAM is a heinous crime. The trauma and abuse felt by child victims can last a lifetime,' says Sarawak-based social activist Voon Shiak Ni. CSAM is not merely digital content; it is evidence of real abuse. Each time such material circulates, the children involved are re-victimized, far beyond the original act. Through the Kempen Internet Selamat (KIS), there is a growing push to educate the public about the true nature of CSAM, not just to be seen as illegal content, but as ongoing harm to real children. KIS urges the public to understand that every click, share, or view retraumatises victims and deepens their suffering. True internet safety must centre the needs of survivors, and that begins with breaking the silence and building a culture of empathy, responsibility, and protection. 'The victims continue to be traumatised and re-traumatised when their abuse materials are reshared all over social media. Being helpless and having no control over this aggravates their fear and shame,' Voon stresses. Voon Shiak Ni Despite this horrifying reality, discussions often centre more on technology and platform accountability than on the children caught in this cycle of abuse. Survivors of child sexual abuse often battle lifelong psychological consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and even suicidal thoughts. Many struggle with trust, relationships, and employment. According to the global Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Kaiser Permanente, survivors are at higher risk of substance abuse and self-harm later in life. 'We all know that crimes like this inflict lifelong psychological scars,' Voon laments, 'Yet, the suffering of victims is often not given enough attention. Most retreat into silence, but their quietness does not mean they are alright.' This raises a crucial question: How many of these children get the help they need? Is there even a national registry of CSAM survivors in Malaysia? The answer remains unclear. While technology has brought countless benefits, it has also become a breeding ground for exploitation. Encrypted messaging platforms, dark web forums, and even mainstream social media are misused for distributing CSAM. Although the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) works with international agencies to detect and remove such content, technological advances often outpace enforcement efforts. 'Cases of child pornography distribution are expected to worsen as technology facilitates these crimes,' Voon warns. She emphasizes that those who view or share CSAM are complicit in harming the children behind the screens. 'There must be strong reminders that resharing or viewing this content is a serious crime.' Preventing this crime and supporting victims is not just the job of authorities. The responsibility lies with all of us, specifically parents, teachers, and communities alike. Parents, as the first line of defense, must actively guide their children's digital activities. Open conversations about personal boundaries, body autonomy, and online safety are critical. Children need to learn to recognise inappropriate behavior and feel safe speaking up. Incorporating digital safety into daily routines including from age-appropriate restrictions to regular check-ins can be life-changing. Parents also need to stay informed about online grooming and the platforms their children use. Teachers, who spend significant time with children, play a vital role in detecting early warning signs of abuse. Sudden behavioral changes like withdrawal, aggression, or poor academic performance may signal deeper issues. With proper training, educators can identify red flags and act as crucial protectors within the school system. Communities, too, have an essential part to play. Neighbours, friends, and even casual observers can intervene when something feels off. Signs such as a child appearing overly anxious around certain adults or displaying inappropriate sexual behavior should never be ignored. Voon underscores the need for trauma support systems to be accessible and safe for all victims and their families. Strengthening community-based child protection programs, neighborhood watch groups, and local support centers is vital to ensure vulnerable children do not slip through the cracks. Although Malaysia has laws under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, the Penal Code, and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, enforcement and public awareness remain major challenges. While there have been stronger collaborations with international agencies like Interpol, gaps in victim support and legal processes persist. 'Is the present law in Malaysia enough to combat child pornography?' Voon asks pointedly. 'I call on the government to increase efforts to support victims, help them overcome trauma, and most importantly, give them a chance to live again.' Stronger legislation, dedicated task forces, and better victim protection mechanisms are critical. Furthermore, national data tracking systems must be improved to monitor prevalence, identify trends, and track survivor outcomes. Society has often turned a blind eye to the shadowy corners of the internet, reluctant to confront the ugly truths within. But that passivity allows predators to continue their actions unchecked. The answer should no longer be yes. Society must confront this issue with urgency and compassion. This means parents staying involved, teachers staying alert, communities staying supportive, and governments staying accountable. Behind every shared video or image of abuse is a child who was hurt. A child who may still be suffering. A child who needs us to see them not as digital data but as a human being worth protecting. child pornography CSAM lead Voon Shiak Ni
Borneo Post
23-06-2025
- Borneo Post
Activist calls for further expansion of child protection services into rural areas
Voon Shiak Ni KUCHING (June 24): The state government should go all out in enhancing the child protection mechanism to better protect the vulnerable and rural communities. In highlighting this, social activist Voon Shiak Ni said it was shocking that a total of 572 child abuse cases had been reported in Sarawak throughout the first half of this year. 'I believe this could just be the tip of the iceberg. 'Usually, many incidents go unreported because the victims are children, and many do not have the ability and access to make the reports for themselves, unless someone helps them. 'Under-reporting remains a major issue, especially in abuse cases when the crimes are committed in a family setting,' she said in a statement yesterday. In this regard, Voon highlighted the importance of the authorities to engage public participation in the battle against child abuse and neglect. She also emphasised the urgent need to strengthen community awareness and advocacy for child protection. Adding on, she called upon the relevant ministry to provide a breakdown on the 572 cases reported this year to date. 'The nature of abuse committed on children, whether related to physical abuse, child neglect, sexual abuse or online-related abuse, should be made known publicly. 'This is helpful information to the public, for them to lend their eyes and ears and watch out for any possibilities of the said abuse happening in their neighbourhoods.' According to Voon, who is a lawyer, the country's legal framework provides comprehensive protection to children through the Child Act 2001, the Penal Code, Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, and Domestic Violence Act 1994. 'These laws criminalise abuse, neglect and exploitation, while mandating reporting and enabling court-ordered protection for at-risk children,' she said. 'We also cannot deny that enforcement gaps, under-reporting and lack of access and support from authorities continue to hinder the effectiveness of these laws, particularly in remote areas of Sarawak.' Thus, she reiterated her call on the state government to take the lead in expanding access to child protection services especially into the rural and indigenous areas, to encourage reporting of the crimes. She believed that such move would also enable more accurate assessment of the seriousness of the crimes happening on the ground, and identify effective systems to address and curb the crimes. On Sunday, federal Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said a total of 572 child abuse and neglect cases were registered in Sarawak from January to June this year. These statistics, released by the Sarawak Welfare Department, underscored the urgent need to strengthen community awareness and advocacy for child protection, she added. child protection lead rural communities Voon Shiak Ni
Borneo Post
20-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Putrajaya asked to exempt imported fruits, food from expanded SST
The expanded SST will cover imported fruits and food including fish, apples, cereals, and dairy products. — Photo by Viktoria Slowikowska/Pexels KUCHING (June 20): Putrajaya has been asked to exclude daily essential imported fruits and food from the expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) effective next month. In making the appeal, social activist Voon Shiak Ni said the SST rate had already increased to 8 per cent, from 6 per cent, on March 1 last year. She said the people are concerned about the implementation of the expanded SST as most essential goods will see a price hike. 'The expanded SST will cover imported fruits and food including fish as well as imported fruits like apples, cereals, and dairy products. 'Most of the goods affected are essential fruits and food for children and also the elderly, as they are essential food for their health,' she said in a statement today. Voon opined apples and cereals should not be considered luxury food items because they are essential for families, young and old alike. According to her, an apple costs more than RM3 now and the expanded SST, once implemented, will further increase the price, making apples unaffordable to most families. 'This is not something positive for the people,' she said. While Malaysians understand that the government needs to generate more revenue to reduce the budget deficit through the expanded SST, she said they hoped their well-being and welfare would be considered. This is especially so when the country's economy this year is projected to be affected by the global economic slowdown, she said. Voon appealed to the federal government to be more sensitive to the people's needs and not burden them with more taxes and further increasing the cost of living. 'Despite the argument that the implementation of expanded SST will not significantly affect the low- and middle-income groups, the reality is that the levying of any form of taxes, even targeted taxes, will affect everyone due to the domino effect in pricing,' she claimed. Set to take effect on July 1, the expanded SST will impose a 5 to 10 per cent sales tax on selected non-essential goods and broaden the service tax to include services such as rental or leasing, construction, finance, private healthcare, education, and beauty. expanded SST lead Voon Shiak Ni
Borneo Post
28-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Social activist calls on S'wak govt to intensify drug awareness, education
Voon Shiak Ni KUCHING (May 28): Social activist Voon Shiak Ni has urged the Sarawak government to take the lead in launching a dedicated annual two month-long drug awareness and education campaign to tackle the root of the growing drug problem in the state. She commended enforcement agencies and the Sarawak police for their firm stance and success in raid operations, citing recent large-scale raids in Miri that uncovered enough illicit substances to supply over 150,000 drug users, or nearly 5.8 per cent of Sarawak's population. However, she said despite high profile seizures and arrests, drug abuse were still rampant, citing a 30 per cent increase in drug addiction cases reported by the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) in 2024. 'These numbers are not just statistics — they represent broken families, lost futures and growing despair. As an activist on the ground, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact of drug abuse on marriages, children and the fabric of society,' she said in a statement. Voon welcomed the recent passing of the amendments to the Drug Dependants (Treatment and Rehabilitation) Act 2024, saying it marked an important policy shift from punishment to rehabilitation — a timely reform recognizing addiction as a health issue deserving of support and structured treatment. However, she emphasised policy reform must go beyond legislation. 'Our community and Sarawak must not abdicate their role. If Sarawak truly wants to break the drug cycle, we need to act decisively on the demand side of the equation, as drug dealing — as any other forms of business — thrives on a demand-driven supply chain,' she said. She said the campaign would target school children and youths across Sarawak, and can be implemented in collaboration with schools, the AADK, local councils, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and community leaders. 'Education must be continuous, not a one-off event and should focus on real-life risks, the emotional toll on families, and the tactics used by traffickers to lure the young and vulnerable,' she said. Touching on public concerns regarding the amended law, Voon noted that while it allowed for non-custodial rehabilitation arrangements, it should not be seen as a 'free ride' for drug users. 'Compassion must be matched with responsibility. I call on the state government and stakeholders to ensure that rehabilitation is not a free pass, but a structured pathway where drug dependents contribute through community service, skill-building, and counselling. 'Only then can we repair not just individuals, but the families and communities broken by addiction,' she said. She pointed out that drug abuse destroys families, often leading to violence, neglect, divorce, and trauma in children, and also poses a wider threat to public safety. 'Rehabilitation must help individuals heal, but it must also rebuild their sense of accountability to society and to the families they've affected,' she added. She stressed that the amended Act also raised legitimate concerns about whether it could weaken efforts to deter initial drug use. 'Prevention is always better than a cure. I humbly urge the Sarawak government to take the lead to battle against the drugs by taking effective measures to deter and reduce the numbers of drug users to cripple the demand-driven supply chain,' she said. crime drug problems education lead Voon Shiak Ni
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Activist urges clarity on eligibility for RM1,200 annual BKK for Sarawakian students
Voon also appeals to the state government to ensure that future financial assistance schemes are inclusive of the M40 group, which she said was frequently overlooked in aid distribution. KUCHING (May 8): The Sarawak government should clarify whether household income will affect the eligibility for the state's Special Financial Assistance (BKK), said social activist Voon Shiak Ni. She commended the initiative as a 'people-friendly' measure aimed at supporting all Sarawakian students, whether they are studying at public or private institutions, where under BKK, eligible students can receive RM1,200 annually until the completion of their degree. 'However, some parents have raised concerns after noticing a section in the application form requiring a declaration of household income, and this has led to uncertainty over whether or not income levels may influence the approval of applications. 'We would like to seek clarification if all university students with Sarawakian status are eligible for this financial benefit under the scheme, regardless of the household income of the parents,' she said in a statement. Voon also noted that Deputy Minister of Education, Innovation and Talent Development Datuk Dr Annuar Rapaee previously stated the BKK scheme is expected to benefit around 60,000 Sarawakian students and to qualify, applicants must also have an active S Pay Global account. She also appealed to the state government to ensure that future financial assistance schemes are inclusive of the middle-income group (M40), which she said was frequently overlooked in aid distribution. 'The M40 group also faces increasing financial pressure amid rising cost of living, and is not spared from the hardships of tightening their purse strings. They too deserve to be considered in welfare programmes,' she said. She also expressed her gratitude for the government's efforts in improving the people's standard of living, and reiterated her hopes that the BKK scheme would be implemented fairly and inclusively. BKK education aid lead Voon Shiak Ni
