Malaysia and Indonesia pursue harsher penalties for child sexual abuse and trafficking

In the Malaysian Parliament, lawmakers debated a second‑reading amendment to the 2017 Child Sexual Offences Act that would extend jurisdiction to offences committed abroad and to permanent residents, aiming to strengthen protection for vulnerable children. MPs raised concerns over the scope of the proposed expansion, the definition of "ordinary residence," digital platform safety, and the handling of AI‑generated abuse material.

In Indonesia, prosecutors have asked a court to impose sentences of up to ten years' imprisonment on 19 defendants accused of running a cross‑border child‑trafficking ring that allegedly abducted at least 34 children between 2023 and 2025. The operation is said to have sold children, including a dozen sent to Singapore for as much as 250 million rupiah each, under the coordination of a 70‑year‑old alleged ringleader. Four Singaporean intermediaries are also identified in the case.