29/05/2025

THURSDAY | MAY 29, 2025 5 Mass arrests in anti-trafficking, gambling raids KUALA LUMPUR: The Criminal Investigation Department at Bukit Aman continues to intensify efforts to tackle various forms of crime through several large-scale operations carried out in the early part of the year. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said one of the major successes was the execution of Operasi Pintas Mega, led by the Anti Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Division in collaboration with police contingents nationwide in February. The operation also involved strategic cooperation with other agencies, including the Immigration Department, Labour Department and local authorities. “During the operation, a total of 45 raids were conducted, resulting in the arrest of 249 individuals and the rescue of 144 victims from human trafficking networks under Section 44 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670). “This achievement demonstrates the Royal Malaysia Police’s dedication and capability in combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling professionally and comprehensively,” he said during the Bukit Aman monthly assembly yesterday. Razarudin also highlighted international cooperation through “Operation Cyber Guardian”, organised by the Singapore Police Force, which included participation from Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and Malaysia. The operation, conducted from Feb 28 to March 28 this year, focused on eradicating online sexual abuse of children. A total of 46 police officers were deployed with support from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the K9 Detection Unit to detect electronic devices used to store and distribute prohibited materials via peer-to-peer platforms and the Telegram app. Four individuals – an accountant, a web designer, a telecommunications industry worker and a civil servant – were arrested, with more than 50,000 pieces of child sexual abuse material seized. All suspects are being investigated under the Child Act 2001, the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 and the Penal Code. The arrests highlight the serious threat posed by cyber sexual crimes targeting vulnerable groups and reaffirm the department’s commitment to combatting such offences. In other developments, Razarudin said the department has intensified its crackdown on illegal gambling through Operasi Dadu Khas, which saw 6,719 raids conducted. A total of 8,603 individuals were arrested and 3,464 electronic devices, including computers, tablets and mobile phones, were seized along with over RM1.6 million in cash. He said the effort reflects the police’s firm stance and zero tolerance towards illegal gambling activities that threaten public safety. – Bernama Police seek public help to find missing girl KUALA LUMPUR: Police are appealing for public assistance in locating a 14-year-old girl reported missing in Petaling Jaya since May 15. Petaling Jaya district police chief ACP Shahrulnizam Ja’afar said a report on the disappearance of Angel Ho Kha Suen was received at 8.36pm on May 19. The fair-skinned teenager, who is 160 centimetres tall with straight brown hair down to her waist, was last seen at Jalan 21/33, Seapark, Petaling Jaya, at 2pm on May 15. “Members of the public with information regarding the individual are requested to come forward to the nearest police station.” Information can also be shared by contacting the Petaling Jaya district police headquarters district control centre at 03-79662222. – Bernama

‘Treat AI-generated child abuse material as real crime’

o Experts warn of rising digital exploitation, urge stronger laws, parent education and cohesive national response

systematically integrated into school curricula, leaving many parents without adequate guidance. “A structured public awareness campaign would go a long way in helping families take preventative measures.” Universiti Malaya cybersecurity specialist Dr Nor Badrul Anuar Jumaat said the rise of generative AI has significantly altered the landscape of online exploitation. “With advanced tools such as OpenAI’s Sora, Google’s Veo and image generators such as Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, criminals can now produce realistic fake images or videos using nothing more than simple text prompts.” He added that photographs of children shared on social media can be misused and manipulated with AI voice cloning tools, such as www.elevenlabs.io and www.vo3ai.com. Dr Badrul said one of the most immediate solutions lies in educating parents. “Parents must understand that even ordinary photos, such as a child in school uniform or at home, can reveal too much. Once online, this content can be copied, altered and repurposed.” He advised parents to exercise caution by adjusting privacy settings, avoiding posts with location or identifying details, and involving their children in decisions about what content is shared. He also recommended educational resources such as the MCMC’s Klik Dengan Bijak campaign and UMCybersafe as valuable tools to raise awareness on the issue.

Ű BY FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

including digital forms. Chan warned normalising AI-generated CSAM through entertainment or social media risks eroding public understanding of what constitutes a criminal offence. “There’s a perception that if it’s not real, then it’s not a big deal. However, if it involves a child and is sexual in nature, it is a crime. The creation or distribution of deepfake child pornography must be met with the full force of the law.” Following Chan’s statement, theSun spoke with two cybersecurity experts, both of whom highlighted the growing dangers of AI in public spaces. Global Centre for Cyber Safety director Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Husin Jazri described AI-generated CSAM as a “real and formidable” threat, driven by the increasing accessibility of generative AI tools. While Malaysia has multiple cybersecurity agencies, he said there is a need for a more cohesive and proactive approach. “Such cases often go unnoticed because we lack a centralised body focused specifically on digital safety for individuals. A dedicated centre based at a university could lead research, education and policy development, provided it receives the necessary support.” He added that cyber safety has yet to be that

PETALING JAYA: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) must be treated with the same severity as physical abuse, said MCA information chief Chan Quin Er. She said there is no such thing as “fake” child abuse when AI-generated images depict minors in sexually explicit situations. Such content still constitutes a criminal offence under existing Malaysian laws. “Whether the image is real, digitally altered or entirely computer-generated, once it portrays a child in a sexual context, it amounts to a clear act of violation,” she said in a statement. Chan cited several legal frameworks that address such offences, including the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which criminalises the creation, possession or distribution of CSAM regardless of whether it is AI-generated. She also referred to Section 292 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, both of which cover the circulation of obscene content. In addition, she highlighted the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act 2022, which encompasses a broader definition of sexual harassment,

Zakaria said the syndicate’s modus operandi involved promoting grooming and facial treatment services for men while discreetly offering sexual services. – PIC COURTESY OF IMMIGRATION DEPT

Grooming centre used as prostitution den busted

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

The department found that the foreign women, who had been operating in the area for the past two years, earned up to RM1,500 per day by providing sexual services to both local and foreign male clients. “Three foreign men and 45 foreign women from Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Laos, aged between 23 and 35, were detained for various offences. Also detained were three local men suspected of acting as ‘guardians’,” he said in a statement issued Tuesday night. The detainees are being investigated for offences under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963. They are currently being held at the Bukit Jalil Immigration Depot pending further action. Zakaria revealed that the syndicate’s modus

operandi involved promoting grooming and facial treatment services for men while discreetly offering sexual services as part of the packages. Customers would book appointments via the WeChat messaging app, through which they were also provided with a catalogue of available foreign women. Each session reportedly cost between RM150 and RM250, depending on the type of service selected. “The premises operated daily from 3pm to 2am. All the foreign women involved in the illegal activities were housed on-site, where dormitory-style rooms had been set up to accommodate them.” During the raids, investigators caught several of the women serving customers.

PETALING JAYA: A prostitution syndicate operating under the guise of men’s grooming services was dismantled following two coordinated raids by the Immigration Department in Kuchai Lama and Bandar Sri Petaling on May 26. Immigration director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said a total of 59 individuals were inspected during the operation, including three men, 45 foreign women and 11 local citizens. The raids, which began at 6pm, were conducted by 38 enforcement officers from the Putrajaya Immigration Enforcement Division after two weeks of surveillance.