KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — To ensure children are protected under Malaysia’s criminal justice system, the government has today revealed its intention to introduce further legislation amendments with the aim of blocking child abuse materials being disseminated online.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today cooperation over the proposed amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act will take place between the Communications and Digital Ministry and the Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) respectively.

"The recent challenges, especially those involving new information technologies, necessitates the need for us to provide our views in the proposed MCMC Act amendments to block online child abuse materials,” she told reporters after a working visit to the Children Interview Centre Bukit Aman here.

Azalina also said the 2017 Special Guidelines in handling Sexual Offences Against Children will also be revised to its latest version by taking account of various challenges faced and insert several special measures introduced under the recent Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill and the Evidence of Child Witness (Amendment) Bill passed by Parliament earlier this year.

"Special training for all stakeholders under the criminal justice system will also be stepped up,” she said.

She said the new guideline will take effect from January 2024 onwards, with revision to be undertaken alongside with the Registry Office of the Federal Court.