The Malaysian government is considering the establishment of a public sex offenders registry to enhance child protection but has yet to reach a concrete decision. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said on May 22 that discussions are ongoing with various ministries, but procedural and human rights issues remain unresolved [1]. She stated, "It is not easy, as there are also human rights considerations. So far, nothing has been finalised, but we are continuing efforts to move this forward" [1].
Currently, Malaysia operates a Sexual Crime Registry System (eDKK), introduced in 2019 and managed by the Social Welfare Department. However, this registry is for internal use only and not accessible to the public [2, 1]. The proposed public registry raises complex questions around data privacy and the rights of offenders, which contribute to the delays in finalizing the plan [2, 1].
In parallel, amendments are underway to the 2001 Child Act to address modern child protection challenges, including threats arising from the online environment. These legislative changes seek to strengthen safeguards for children amid growing technological risks [2, 1].
The issue of sexual offences has gained heightened attention due to a high-profile court case involving a 42-year-old female teacher charged with sexually assaulting her 14-year-old male student since 2025 [1]. Reflecting on the case, Minister Nancy urged authorities not to delay action. She said, "I hope that they do not put the case aside and just keep that person in the icebox. They have to do something because this is not very good for the child" [1].
The government’s next steps will focus on addressing the procedural hurdles and balancing human rights with child protection before any public registry is finalized. The ongoing review of the Child Act amendments will also proceed alongside these discussions.
