12/09/2025

FRIDAY | SEPT 12, 2025

5

Laws alone not enough to protect children online: MCA

Headmaster charged with sexual assault of student PASIR MAS: A headmaster, or “mudir”, of a “pondok” school was charged in the Sessions Court yesterday with seven counts of sexual assault on a male student and possession of obscene images. Muhammad Aswadi Yah, 46, pleaded not guilty to all charges before Judge Zulkpli Abdullah. On the first to sixth charges, the man is charged with sexually assaulting the 16-year-old student at a house in Kampung Kubang Batang, Tumpat, between 7am and 7.30am from June 2024 to August this year. The charges were framed under Section 14(d) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries imprisonment of up to 20 years and whipping. On the seventh count, he is charged with possessing obscene images on his mobile phone at about 4pm on Aug 29. The offence, under Section 292 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum prison sentence of three years or a fine, or both. The court set bail of RM45,000 in one surety for all the charges. He was also ordered to report to a nearby police station once a month and not intimidate witnesses in the case. The prosecution was conducted by DPP Siti Aiysha Na’ilah Harizan, while the accused was represented by lawyer Mohd Irwan Sumadi. – Bernama Severed head found after suspected crocodile attack SIBU: The severed head of an elderly man, believed to have been killed by a crocodile while bathing in a river at Kampung Siang-Siang Laut in Terusan, Lawas on Tuesday, was recovered on Wednesday. A spokesperson for the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Centre said villagers found the head about 500m from where the victim was last seen. “Upon receiving a call about the discovery at 11.20pm, a team from the Lawas Fire and Rescue station, led by operations commander Awang Adani Damit and Senior Operations Commander Clarence D. Primus Tiandun, was deployed to the location, about 22km away. “At 12.45am, family members confirmed the object as the victim’s head, which was then handed to police. The search and rescue operation resumed (in the) morning.” The victim, Tuah Lamat, 80, was reported missing while bathing at a small bridge near his home at 5.30pm. Villagers then launched a search along the river using boats but failed to locate the victim, before contacting the Fire and Rescue Department for assistance. – Bernama

personal photos, could make a significant difference. Wong said modelling healthy online behaviour is also equally important. Parents should practice safe habits themselves and watch for warning signs such as secrecy or distress, which may point to harassment or abuse. “With youths gaining internet access at a younger age, protection must start at home. “Cybersecurity should strike a balance, shielding children from harmful content without cutting them off from healthy social connections. “Total restriction is impractical, but leaving them unguarded could cause lifelong harm.” She called on families, educators, communities and policymakers to work together to build a safer digital environment in which children could thrive without fear of exploitation.

through community initiatives and government aid, adding that at the same time, families have a duty to shield children from predators with malicious intent. She also said while policies and safeguards for e-wallet transactions are under review, parents remain the first line of defence. Citing Unicef guidance, she said “cyberparenting” is vital, with parents supervising, guiding and monitoring their children’s online activity while teaching digital safety and awareness of risks. She added that spending time online together helps create safe and positive digital experiences, and teaches children how to spot and avoid inappropriate content. She also urged parents to set clear rules, such as explaining that anything posted online leaves a digital footprint and may be misused. Simple steps, such as not sharing

o Vital for efforts from families, communities and policymakers to address root causes

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

and selling explicit material slip through the cracks. He added that payment platforms make transactions hard to trace, with reports of minors receiving money from adults in exchange for sexual images or videos, and coercion and manipulation are often involved. MCA Wanita National chairperson Datuk Wong You Fong said understanding why children engage in such activities is critical. “Poverty and financial hardship may push some into these situations, but exploitation by manipulative adults cannot be ignored.” She said if financial need is the driver, youths must be guided towards safer options and supported

PETALING JAYA: The tabling of the Cybercrime Bill next month has stirred cautious optimism that Malaysia would soon be better equipped to combat sexual crimes online, particularly the circulation of lewd content involving minors. However, MCA said laws alone would not be enough without parallel efforts by families, communities and policymakers to address the root causes of exploitation and to empower parents to play a stronger role in safeguarding children online. Child activist Firdaus Ashaj said many young people producing

Immigration Dept arrests 125 foreigners in raid KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 125 illegal immigrants were arrested by the Immigration Department in a raid on a 19-storey flat in Danau Kota, Setapak yesterday. Kuala Lumpur Immigration

director Wan Mohamed Saupee Wan Yusoff said those arrested consisted of 81 men and 43 women aged between 16 and 70, and a child. They included 79 Myanmarese, 25 Indian, 14 Pakistani, 12 Indonesian and five Bangladeshi citizens. He said the raid, which began at about midnight, was conducted following complaints about the influx of foreigners, believed to be illegal immigrants, dominating the area. “Two-weeks of intelligence gathering identified a block with 380 housing units and targeted inspections were carried out on 64 units involving 400 individuals,” he told reporters after the operation. Wan Mohamed Saupee said those detained in the operation were suspected of not having valid travel documents or overstaying and investigations were being conducted in accordance with Section 6(1)(c) and Section 15(4) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Wan Mohamed Saupee said those detained in the operation were suspected of not having valid travel documents or overstaying. – BERNAMAPIC

Immigration

Act

1959/63

for

“Homeowners must ensure that foreigners staying at their premises possess valid documents by verifying them at the Immigration office. Failure to do so may result in action under Section 56(1)(d) of the

He added that inspections revealed the housing units were rented to the illegal immigrants for between RM700 and RM1,200 per month, while room rentals ranged from RM200 to RM400 a month.

harbouring illegal immigrants.” He also urged illegal immigrants to use the Migrant Repatriation Programme 2.0 to voluntarily return to their country of origin. – Bernama

Police chief sustains head injury during enforcement op KUALA LUMPUR: Dang Wangi police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman sustained a head injury yesterday, believed to have been caused by a rock thrown by an unidentified individual during a tense enforcement operation in Kampung Sungai Baru. Bernama reported that the incident took place as authorities carried out a court-ordered operation to cut off electricity supply and demolish several homes in the area. Sources said police instructed residents at the scene to disperse, but some allegedly refused and continued provoking officers. Photographs of Sulizmie’s head injury were also widely circulated on social media, prompting concern and condemnation from the public. Bukit Aman Internal Security and Public Order Department deputy director Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi said the General Operations Force (GOF) is on standby and ready to be deployed if deemed necessary to control the situation. “If we receive a request from the contingent, GOF will certainly assist,” he told a press conference after an obstacle course test at the Central GOF Brigade headquarters in Cheras yesterday. The Home Ministry later condemned the assault, describing it as “vile, uncivilised and utterly unacceptable” . Its minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said while the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, such freedoms must be exercised responsibly and within the boundaries of law, decorum and social norms. “Malaysia is a sovereign nation governed by the rule of law. Every citizen must respect this principle and refrain from conduct that undermines national order,” he said in a statement, adding that an investigation has been ordered to bring the individuals responsible to justice. He added that the government has long upheld the right to peaceful assembly, with many gatherings proceeding without obstruction so long as they complied with legal requirements. However, he warned that freedom of assembly must not be misused for narrow political purposes, to create unrest or to incite hatred through misinformation. “The safety and well-being of the people, as well as the integrity of our security forces, are priorities that cannot be compromised.” – By Kirtinee Ramesh