KUCHING: Victims of sexual molestation must not be afraid to lodge their reports with the authorities.
In fact, it would be better if they make their reports immediately, said Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
She made this call in view of a recent alleged molestation of a nine-year-old girl at a supermarket in Petaling Jaya.
“Many do not come forward to report so they suffer in silence and cause the molester to continue his or her heinous act,” she said.
On the case in Petaling Jaya, Fatimah said she was glad that the police were taking immediate action to hunt down the suspect.
“The perpetrator shouldn’t be allowed to roam free. This is a case of the power of social media over criminals and hopefully the culprit will be brought to justice. We need to protect our children from such menace,” she stressed.
She then said child molesters are not all men as there are also cases of female molesters.
“We do not want such people to endanger our children. Thus, parents must always accompany their young children and watch them closely whenever they are in public places,” she said.
Fatimah also urged parents to educate their children to protect themselves from molestation.
“While child molesters need to be dealt with by the law, at the same time they need professional help too as they could be mentally or emotionally sick.”
A video clip showing a man hugging and rubbing his private parts against a girl’s buttocks went viral on social media recently. The incident happened on July 10.
The police are now tracking down the suspect.
