05/06/2026

FRIDAY | JUNE 5, 2026

4

Experts question value of public sex offender registry

Minister backs schooling for young mothers KUALA LUMPUR: Teenage girls involved in out-of-wedlock pregnancies will continue to receive support to ensure they return to school and sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination, said Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek. She added that students must be given every opportunity to continue their education and avoid dropping out of the school system. “They should return to their studies after completing their postnatal recovery period. I am very firm on this matter. There can be no shortcuts in life because education is the key to breaking the cycle of violence and rebuilding one’s future. “The Education Ministry will assist these students in returning to school and ensure they are able to sit for the SPM without disrupting their education,“ she said in a Facebook post. Fadhlina stressed that teenage pregnancy should be addressed through a support, protection and education-based approach to safeguard the welfare of both mother and child. She said once a pregnancy is discovered, the teenager should be taken to the nearest health clinic or rural health centre to register for maternal healthcare and obtain a pregnancy health record, commonly known as the “pink book”. “The priority must be the pregnancy and the health of the young girl. The younger the teenager, the greater the risks to both her pregnancy and her health. “The government healthcare system is fully equipped and has the expertise to manage these cases.” She also urged parents to lodge a police report and arrange counselling support immediately so the teenager can share the full circumstances of the case and enable appropriate follow-up action. Alongside the post, Fadhlina shared a media report of a young mother who pleaded guilty in Johor on Wednesday to causing the death of her baby. She described the case as particularly distressing, drawing on her experience as an activist involved in establishing Bayt Al Rahmah, a shelter for girls facing out-of wedlock pregnancies. Acknowledging the challenges faced by parents, including feelings of shame and anger, Fadhlina said institutions such as Bayt Al-Rahmah play an important role in providing a safe environment and protection for expectant mothers until childbirth. She added that similar support services are available through the Social Welfare Department, which provides shelter and protection through government-run institutions. Fadhlina also highlighted the post-partum period as a critical phase that may lead to depression or other mental health complications if adequate care is not provided. She said comprehensive support, including healthcare, breastfeeding assistance and ongoing counselling, is essential to ensure young mothers do not face overwhelming stress. “There are many young girls who are frightened and worried about their pregnancies. What is far more important is that we adopt preventive and supportive approaches when addressing this social issue. “We can save the lives of both mothers and children by acting early, trusting the system instead of social stigma, and building strong support networks within our communities.” – Bernama

o Overseas studies drew mixed findings on whether such databases improve child safety: Psychologist

lecturer and criminologist Dr Haezreena Begum Abdul Hamid shared similar concerns, saying evidence from overseas do not clearly support claims that public registries reduce repeat offences. “They may help in some cases with monitoring, but making names and details publicly accessible is a different issue altogether.” Haezreena said public registries, particularly those in the United States, have long been criticised for contributing to lifelong stigma, harassment, social exclusion and even vigilantism. “In some cases, this can actually make offender management more difficult because individuals may go underground, avoid supervision or become harder to monitor.” Instead of a fully public database, she proposed a restricted registry accessible only through regulated channels. “My view is that access should only be available through proper channels, such as police or the Social Welfare Department, where a person or institution with a legitimate reason can make an enquiry. They should be required to state the purpose of the request, and access should be properly recorded and controlled.” She said such a system would allow schools, childcare centres and employers working with children to conduct safeguarding checks without creating a public “name-and shame” regime. Haezreena added that registries alone are becoming increasingly inadequate, as sexual offending evolves beyond traditional physical settings. “A growing number of cases now involve online grooming, digital exploitation and cross-border offending.”

mixed findings on whether public registries improve child safety. “In theory, a public sex offender registry aims to improve safety through community monitoring and increased awareness. “However, international studies have not consistently shown that such registries reduce rates of sexual offences against children.” Noor Aishah said one reason was that most child sexual abuse cases were committed by individuals already known to the victim. “Most child sexual abuse cases are committed by family members, acquaintances, teachers or caregivers. They are not strangers listed in a public registry.” She added that public disclosure could unintentionally create a false sense of security among parents and communities. “A registry may create a false sense of security, where communities assume they are safe if a person is not listed, when the actual risk may come from someone much closer to the child.” Rather than relying heavily on offender registries, she said policymakers should prioritise prevention and strengthen safeguarding measures. She pointed to gaps in early intervention, adding that Malaysia’s child protection system often responds only after abuse has already occurred. Noor Aishah also highlighted the absence of standardised nationwide training for parents and educators to recognise grooming behaviour and early warning signs. “Many parents and educators still lack formal education on child sexual abuse, grooming and warning signs that may indicate a child is at risk.” Universiti Malaya Faculty of Law senior

Ű BY HARITH KAMAL newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: Calls for a public sex offender registry may offer reassurance to anxious parents, but experts have said such a database would do little to protect children from the people most likely to abuse them – those they already know and trust. As Putrajaya continues to study the possibility of making information on convicted sex offenders publicly accessible, child protection and criminology experts said international evidence has yet to show that public registries significantly reduce child sexual abuse or prevent repeat offences. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri recently said discussions on establishing a public registry of sexual offenders were ongoing, although the issue remained complex. Malaysia currently operates the Sexual Crime Registry System, introduced in 2019 and administered by the Social Welfare Department. However, unlike similar systems in some countries, the registry is not open to public searches. CPC International managing director and child clinical psychologist Dr Noor Aishah Rosli said studies conducted overseas had produced Ornamental fish industry in Kelantan tops RM8 million BACHOK: The ornamental fish industry here recorded a production value of more than RM8 million between 2023 and 2025, with a total output of 468,673 fish from various species. State Fisheries Department director Ismail Ibrahim said guppy, betta and molly were the main species bred by local entrepreneurs due to their strong market demand. There are currently 47 active ornamental fish breeders across the state, operating in Kota Bharu, Bachok, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Tumpat, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai. “This achievement demonstrates the strong potential of the ornamental fish industry as an aquaculture segment capable of generating income for entrepreneurs while contributing to the state’s economic growth,” he said after officiating at the opening and closing ceremony of the Kelantan Ornamental Fish and Aquaculture Festival 2026 at Dataran Pantai Irama on Wednesday. Given the strong demand, he encouraged more people, particularly youths, to venture into ornamental fish breeding, describing it as an industry with promising prospects and attractive returns. He said the business could be operated commercially on a large scale and was also suitable as a home-based enterprise, requiring lower capital investment than several other aquaculture segments. “Ornamental fish have a dedicated niche market, and their value depends on factors such

Ismail said there are currently 47 active ornamental fish breeders across the state, operating in Kota Bharu, Bachok, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Tumpat, Gua Musang and Kuala Krai. – ADIB RAWI YAHYA/THESUN

enthusiasts from within the country and abroad.” The two-day Kelantan Ornamental Fish and Aquaculture Festival 2026, which began on Tuesday, brought together more than 80 participants and showcased over 300 species of ornamental fish. – Bernama

as species, size, colour and quality. Certain species, such as arowana, can fetch thousands of ringgit each. “Apart from being kept as pets, ornamental fish also have commercial value through competitions and exhibitions that attract