Sexual Abuse and Rape Involving Children in Malaysia.

Assalamualaikum and good day to everyone.

Actually today is the last day i'm spending time as an internship student in Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontinjen Kelantan. So hey, as i'm freaking bored as always here (got nothing to do) so i'm gonna share with you my opinion and also some knowledge I got here regarding sexual abuse and also rape involving children that is alarming in Malaysia.

According to American Psychological Association website, 'sexual abuse' involving any sexual activity by force, making threats or doing anything sexually towards victim without his/her consent. Usually, perpetrators and victims know each other and this can cause victim to feel shocked, fear or disbelief. in a long term, victim might have anxiety, fear or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Meanwhile rape according to Section 375 of Penal Code, basically rape means any sexual intercourse made to a woman without her consent. However, consent given by a woman below 16 years of age is not counted. Meaning that any sexual intercourse with a woman below 16 would still considered as rape, or in another word, 'statutory rape' whether she consented to it or not. The rationale behind this is that the law regards girl that age as a minor who not able to think thoroughly or nor able to understand nature and consequences of her own act. Therefore, the older guy or mature guy who had sexual intercourse with that girl should have think on behalf of her and also should guide her, not taking advantage on her by having sex. Also, it is pertinent to know that according to the explanation in the said provision, penetration only is sufficient to constitute the sexual intercourse necessary to the offense of rape.

So the above are the definition of sexual abuse and also rape. Now i'm gonna share my opinion regarding this matter. Most of rape offense and also sexual abuse is done by perpetrators who knows victim. Based on my observation during my practical training in D11 diversion, i can say that most perpetrators include victim's own family members like father, step-father, brother, step-brother, uncle, relatives and also neighbors. These perpetrator taking advantage of victim's immaturity by persuading victims using anything to make victims follow his order like giving chocolate, toys or even pretending to play with victims. Victim who knows nothing usually did not tell anything about that matter to anyone unless being forced to tell after their parents or guardian sensed something strange about victim. Most of victim would not like perpetrators because they hurt them, and also usually victims would refuse to urinate, defecate or bath because that would hurt them even more. 

That is why, in this age, guardian should always aware of this issue and frequently checked upon their children especially on their private parts to see is they got hurt anywhere. Also, ask children everyday on what they did today, who they play with to prevent any bad things happened to them. in addition to that, parents must also know that, sexual offences and rape is not just focused on female child alone but also to male child. Like in the recent case i read on Berita Harian online, a male child has been sodomy (liwat) by his own neighbor. His neighbor persuaded him by using wrist watch to make him obey his instruction. 

Based on my observation, when rape or any sexual offences happened to a child and that child informed to any of her parent or guardian, usually guardian would not want to believe that if it was done by closed family members usually her own brother or father. Once they refuse to believe, therefore no action was taken towards the perpetrators as if giving him more chances to keep on raping or sexually abuse the child. In most cases, the mother (usually) would even contended that her child made up such stories, and this definitely would damage the victims mentally and physically. Victim would always feel fear, anxiety and also disbelief to his/her own family members. 

I have watched one of segment in Oprah Winfrey show where a twin sisters were raped by their own two big brothers since they were 4 years old (if i'm not mistaken) almost every single day. However they did not know those things were wrong even though they admitted that they did feel hurt. As time passed by and they got a bit older, they started to realized that those things are not normally happened to every family members and so they chose to tell that to their father. At first, their father scolded and hit their brothers. However, right after, his father told them to do to him exactly like what they did to their brothers. In another words, now their own father who started to rape them almost every single day. Felt sad about what happened, they told about what had happened to them to their mother. Unfortunately they have been hit and scolded by their mother who refused to believe them. Also, one of the twin said in the show that, few times their mother opened the door and saw they were crying while being raped by their brothers and father however the mother turned her head away and pretended that she did not see that. The twin sisters giving up in telling about that or asking help from anyone including their neighbor who they frequently went to play with. They had giving up in telling or seeking help from anyone and this continued till they reached 17 years old if i'm not mistaken. Where here is the point that they finally have the strength to tell that to the neighbor who chose to report such matter to police station. All of the twin family members have been caught including their mother and has been imprisonment. When Oprah asked if the twin sister still care or love any of their family members, both of them said they hate their family and can never forgive them. 

The above story is just one of many cases regarding rape and sexual abuse done by victim's own family members that i know. And what i can say is that, in Kelantan only, the reported cases involving rape and sexual abuse towards children are very high not including cases in whole Malaysia. Also, i believed that out there, still many more victims who just choose keep silent regarding this matter and many more who refused to make a police report. Most of guardian who refused to make a police report usually with the excuse that they do not want to make this issue bigger, do not want to shame their own family members and also wanted to give second chance to the offender to change. Sadly, offender would never changed instead this give them more chance to keep on raping and sexually abuse the innocent child. 

Last but not least, since this issue is alarming, therefore i'm hoping that every parents or guardian should be aware of this issue and take it seriously. Check upon the child frequently and if they are suspicious of anything bad had happened to their child, just bring the child to hospital to have a medical check up on their private parts to see whether they have been raped or not. And if confirmed she/he has been rape, PLEASE do not hesitate to report this matter to police station for the child own safety and future. as we know, children's today are tomorrow's leader therefore safeguarding their interest and safety should be put first before anything else.