KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 — The federal government is committed to enforcing laws punishing the enablers of sexual abuse involving children, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said today.

She said this is subsequent to a meeting between representatives of the Attorney General’s Chambers, judiciary, Royal Malaysia Police, Children’s Commissioner and ministries to discuss the strategies on the comprehensive nationwide enforcement of Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act which took place earlier today.

Today’s meeting follows her remark yesterday on the necessity to increase public awareness about Section 19 of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act where she lamented that people were unaware of its enforcement.

Section 19 makes it an offence for anyone who knows about sexual abuse against a child but fails to report it to the police. Those who are found guilty in court can be fined up to RM5,000.

"The unity government is committed towards all aspects involving children affairs especially on child protection and will not tolerate any party that mistreats children either implicitly or explicitly,” she said in a brief statement here.

In the ongoing effort to curb sexual abuses against children, Azalina said enforcement needed to be firm, including prosecuting those who known to the child victims such as teachers and neighbours who are aware of the abuse but refused to intervene.