According to a joint statement by the law and education ministers, there were 6,990 child victims of sexual assault from 2017 to 2023, with 1,570 in 2023 alone.

“One of the biggest challenges the government faces today is the under-reporting of cases, especially among children,” said Azalina Othman Said and Fadhlina Sidek.

They said that a child-friendly reporting system was being co-developed by the education ministry and Azalina’s office to ensure all complaints of abuse are captured more effectively.

“Teachers and community leaders will also be trained to detect and report sexual assaults on children in schools more effectively,” they said.

According to further statistics provided by the ministers, out of the 1,570 cases of sexual assault involving children in 2023, most were between the ages of 13 and 15, with 110 cases below the age of six.