Concern grows over rising sexual assault cases involving children, adolescents in Malaysia
“In the age of information technology, children and adolescents have easy access to content about sex. But this exposure actually makes them vulnerable," Tengku Asra says
THE growing number of sexual assault cases involving minors in Malaysia is becoming a serious concern, with recent statistics showing a disturbing rise in such incidents.
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"By January 2025 alone, there have already been 1,000 reported cases of sexual crimes against children. Definitely, something is wrong somewhere, and we need to tackle this issue starting with education, through awareness programs," Tengku Asra said in an interview with Astro AWANI.
The CPS KL recently organised an iftar (breaking of fast) event with the community at the Jelatek People’s Housing Project (PPR), aiming to raise awareness about child sexual abuse and the importance of safeguarding young people.
She stressed that the increasing accessibility to explicit content via the internet has left many children and teenagers exposed to harmful information, making them more susceptible to exploitation.
"In the age of information technology, children and adolescents have easy access to content about sex. But this exposure actually makes them vulnerable," she explained.
Tengku Asra emphasised that the rise in sexual assault cases calls for immediate intervention through educational programmes outside of school curriculums.
"Programmes like these, where we bring in officers from Bukit Aman (the Malaysian police headquarters), can provide children with the necessary education on their rights and safety," she said.
"They don’t need to have sex education in school every day, but out-of-school programmes like this one can help."
The key focus of the programme was to inform young people about their personal rights and safety.
"Today, we talk about their right to feel safe, that their safety is a right. Parents, close friends, and family should never cross those boundaries," she added.
Farida Qatan, a representative of the Jelatek People’s Housing Project Women and Children Bureau, also echoed the importance of parents being more open in discussing sensitive topics like sex with their children.
"Sometimes we need to be open with our children and ask sensitive questions, but it should be done one-on-one. They might not feel comfortable or might be too shy to speak up," she said.
Parents at PPR Jelatek have voiced concern over the need for more vigilance, especially in the age of easily accessible online content.
"The internet makes it easy for children to download inappropriate material, so we believe it's crucial to ensure their safety and protect them from such risks," Farida said.
The initiative by CPS KL and the collaboration with local authorities reflect a growing effort to address the alarming rise in sexual assault cases involving minors.
The hope is that with more community involvement and better education, the issue can be mitigated, ensuring the safety and well-being of children in Malaysia.
I hope the police have some expertise in the field. This is a good start, but so much more is needed. Laws that control the platforms that allow child sex abuse images are needed everywhere. They must be held responsible for damaging kids.
You also have to be aware of child sex abuse tourism.
Whangamōmona’s former vice-president Bryan Ramage jailed for historic sexual offending
Bryan Ramage has been jailed for sexually and indecently abusing three girls around 20 years ago. Photo / Ilona Hanne
A former “vice-president” and well-known local of the country’s only self-declared republic has been revealed as a sex offender.
Bryan Ramage, of Whangamōmona, sexually and indecently abused three young teens around two decades ago, including repeatedly raping a 13-year-old who now describes him as a predator and a deeply disturbed individual.
Now 69, Ramage was around 50 when he touched the girl’s genital area and told her not to tell anyone.
He later “forcefully” removed her pants, held her down by her arms above her head, then raped her in a manner the victim described as aggressive.
On about eight further occasions, Ramage raped the girl, and other times he sexually violated her.
He went on to give her cannabis and alcohol, and sexual activities followed.
Ramage tried to rationalise his actions in an apology letter to the victim, read to New Plymouth District Court at his sentencing this week.
He said at the time he was unhappy in his marriage and his affection for her was genuine.
Bryan Ramage was once elected the vice-president of Whangamōmona, which declared itself a republic in 1989. Photo / Ilona Hanne
“Admittedly, our friendship made me feel young again. I crossed boundaries and ventured into an inappropriate relationship with her. I did not foresee the consequences on her life. I made a terrible mistake,” said Ramage, who maintained he accepted full responsibility.
He was regretful and “truly, truly sorry”, he wrote.
“That’s not admitting rape, that’s admitting an inappropriate relationship. That’s not admitting you held her down and forced your way into her,” Judge Greig told him, rejecting the letter.
He said Ramage was only “truly, truly sorry” for the predicament he had found himself in, being that he was facing a lengthy prison sentence in his later years.
The judge said he deserved to spend the remainder of his life locked up.
There were two other victims Ramage offended against around the same time as the young teen.
One was 6 when he exposed himself to her, then when she was a preteen, he touched her pubic and breast area during a “tickle fight”, and asked her to show him her breasts as “payment” for food she had requested.
The third victim was around 14 to 16 years old when Ramage touched her breasts and genitals while “play fighting” with her.
He later pinned her down on a bed and tried to pull off the towel that she was wrapped in, only stopping when she yelled at him. Ramage later put his hand inside her dress, touching one of her breasts.
‘Well-liked and respected in his community’
Ramage operated a horse trekking business in Ahititi, Taranaki, between 1997 and 2010.
He resided about an hour away in Whangamōmona, on State Highway 43, the Forgotten World Highway.
In 1989, residents declared the remote town a republic in protest of regional boundary changes that meant the township was to be considered in Manawatū/ Whanganui rather than Taranaki.
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SEXUAL HARM
SUICIDE AND DEPRESSION
Tara Shaskey joined NZME in 2022 as a news director and Open Justice reporter. She has been a reporter since 2014 and previously worked at Stuff covering crime and justice, arts and entertainment, and Māori issues.
Art teacher who was school 'favourite' abused young boys in 'secret sex club'
James Waters, 82, was given a 'death sentence' this week years after he used his position as a favourite teacher to lure boys to a 'secret sex club' where he abused them repeatedly
A sick predator used his position as his pupils' favourite teacher to sexually abuse 14 boys in a perverted “sex club”. Art teacher James Waters targeted young boys at a preparatory school in Surrey and jailed in a “death sentence” of 14 years after being convicted of an array of horrifying offences.
Waters, of Beeford, between Brandesburton and Bridlington, faced sentence for 36 sexual offences, including 25 of indecent assault, nine of indecency with a child and two of another very serious sexual offence [buggery], dating back to the 1980s. He was convicted by a jury, after a trial lasting nearly two-and-a-half weeks, of four of the offences, including the two most serious. He earlier admitted the other offences.
Waters, full name Terence James Waters, was already subject to an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and having to register for life as a sex offender. He will be on extended licence of one year when he is released from prison.
“Classic grooming behaviour” was used by Waters including “skinny dipping” and inviting boys to be paid for being photographed, according to prosecutor Daniel Stephenson. Mr Stephenson said that sexual activity followed.
In carrying out his sinister predatory behaviour, Waters would take pupils to a dark room and take pictures of them naked and carry out sexual acts with them, including using baby oil. The boys would be given rewards by Waters following his sick behaviour and he would also take them to a loft area where they would strip naked.
"Don't tell anyone what happens,” he told one boy according to Hull Live. We'll keep it a secret." He told another: "This is our secret. This is our stuff."
Waters - he would urge victims not to tell their friends - encouraged the boy to play strip poker and told him: "You are very good at this. You are doing very well." He told another boy: "You mustn't tell anyone. It's because you are special."
Mr Stephenson said Waters would created a “comfortable atmosphere” in which to photograph the boys, telling them this is “our little thing together". One boy was given pornographic magazines.
"It's clear that the offending has had a substantial impact on the complainants in this case," said Mr Stephenson. "Each of them was particularly vulnerable. They were away from their parents. They were young. This is a clear case of abuse of trust, the defendant being a trusted teacher."
Waters already had a significant criminal record before he was jailed again this week. His record is as follows:
April 1988 - Jailed for three-and-a-half years for six offences of indecent assault of boys and two of taking indecent photographs.
- September 1994 - Jailed for six years for indecent assault, gross indecency and taking indecent photographs
- April 2000 - Jailed for two-and-a-half years for two offences of making indecent photographs of children
- January 2009 - Non-custodial sentence for six offences involving indecent images
- March 2011 - Eight offences of indecent assault of boys and five of gross indecency
Mitigating, Michael Edmonds said the latest case was nearly identical with those dealt with in 1988 and there had been a “massive delay” in bringing them to justice. "Those matters could and should have been dealt with at the same time," said Mr Edmonds. "The defendant has not assaulted any child or anyone else since the 2011 case.”
Mr Edmonds said Waters has shown remorse over his actions in later life and that he was abused as a child and was “involved in what was effectively child prostitution”. Mr Edmonds also said: “He has controlled the urges that he simply has… He has resisted temptation."
He should have started about 30 years and several dozen boys earlier.
The defence lawyer added that it would be a “death sentence” for Waters if he were jailed now. “There must be for him, even at this age, light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. "He is, to say the least, not well. He has already rehabilitated himself. He has been living a very quiet life being monitored by the police. He is regularly and randomly visited by officers. His offending is now in the distant past. He knows what is coming. He is resigned to his fate. Your Honour ought not to condemn him to death in prison."
"Offending of this gravity must be met by a very significant sentence even if it was many decades ago," said Judge Tahir Khan KC. "The victims are entitled to justice just as much as you are. At the heart of this case is that each of the boys that you preyed on was vulnerable because of their particular circumstances.
"You were able to abuse so many victims because you were a teacher at a prep school where the pupils were either day pupils or boarders. These boys were away from their parents. Teachers were feared and corporal punishment was practised."
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