SHAH ALAM: The police have revealed that within just an hour of acquaintance, children can be easily influenced and deceived into engaging in sexual relations with individuals they have just met online.
Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigations Division (D11) principal assistant director Assistant Commissioner Siti Kamsiah Hassan said that in that small window of time, victims were sharing their home locations with predators, leading to sexual crimes.
She emphasised the alarming speed at which "sexual grooming" occurs, with predators exploiting the vulnerability of children through social media interactions.
She said the process often involved luring victims with promises and pleasures, quickly building trust, and making sexual crimes easier to perpetrate.
"Within an hour, they engage in sexual relations; this is through social media... how 'sexual grooming' occurs rapidly."
"(Victims) are drawn in by the 'powerful' words of the predator, which entice or deceive the children.
"Usually, trust is built quickly by offering sweet promises and pleasures, making sexual crimes easier to occur.
"Telecommunication devices and the internet facilitate this process, with introductions, chatting, and home visits (e-hailing services) making it easier for them to meet," she said during the Townhall Discussion of the Selangor Contingent Police 2024, held here today.
The Community Welfare Responsibility Programme, which has been ongoing for years, was also attended by the Selangor Police Chief Datuk Hussein Omar Khan.
Siti Kamsiah explained that children were among the groups most easily drawn to and influenced by social media and seeking content in the online world.
"When they give a 'like,' it can attract public attention. There is also a stigma that children can attract someone, and they become a source of pride... I see that self-control is lacking," she said.
She also mentioned that in efforts to address this issue, parents should not only educate but also monitor their children's behaviour, especially in the use of gadgets and monitor how they navigate the internet.
"The learning process at home is unavoidable. Parents must educate, control, and be aware of the risks in their children's environment. We can no longer rely solely on physical movements outside the home to prevent crimes, as crimes often start at home," she said.
At the same time, Siti Kamsiah confirmed that Selangor was the highest contributor to sexual crime cases compared to other states in the past three years, with 90 per cent involving locals.
"Selangor is the highest state and the number of cases is far higher compared to other states.
Among the factors are its population, proximity to other states' borders such as Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, and Perak. So, it leads to more access to Selangor.
"After Selangor, it's Johor... it's all based on population density and economic activities. The B40 group faces unstable economic conditions, educational neglect, household conditions and divorce," she said.