KUALA LUMPUR: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Nancy Shukri said that combating sexual offences against children requires a collective responsibility.
Responding to the recent controversy surrounding the 'Abang Bas' TikTok account, where a bus driver uploaded videos of female students, she said that while Malaysia has established laws to address such offences, public awareness and understanding of these laws remain insufficient.
She urged society to be more vigilant and proactive, advocating for a community-wide approach to safeguarding children.
"As adults, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of the children's parents and ask ourselves: would the actions of others be acceptable if done to our own children?
"For instance, is it appropriate for an adult to touch a child's body in an inappropriate area?" Nancy told The New Straits Times.
A TikTok video showing a man referring to a primary school pupil as his 'crush' recently went viral, sparking public backlash, with many criticising his behaviour as inappropriate and potentially constituting sexual harassment.
The video, recorded while the man was driving a school bus, showed the pupil's face clearly. Such actions violate the Child Act 2001, which prohibits taking photos or videos of children without parental consent.
Yesterday, the police announced that the 24-year-old school bus driver has been arrested in Simpang Renggam and remanded under Section 15(a)(III) of the Sexual Offenses Against Children Act 2017 and Section 15(2) of the Child Act 2001.
Touching on appropriate behaviour towards children, she reminded the public that affection can be expressed in many ways, not just through physical contact. She urged adults to avoid normalising inappropriate behaviours that contradict societal and moral values.
She also emphasised the importance of continued advocacy, not only for parents and teachers but for children themselves.
"We must recognise that criminals will not obey laws," she said, drawing parallels with drug trafficking, which persists despite severe penalties.
Nancy also reminded parents of their role in educating their children on the issue and stressed that parents should not leave this responsibility entirely to schools or teachers. She noted that taboo subjects must be discussed openly and appropriately with children.
"Parents must guide their children, especially on matters of safety and sexual awareness. If they don't, who will?" she said.