KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 2026 – National DAPSY Assistant Publicity Secretary Syaheera Ghafar has described the arrest of 69 individuals suspected of involvement in the sale and distribution of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) as a highly worrying development that reflects the critical moral decline in parts of society.
Police reports revealed that 69 individuals were detained in Ops Cyber Guardian conducted early last month, accompanied by the seizure of more than 200,000 digital CSAM materials.
“This figure is not merely crime statistics, but a reflection of the critical level of moral collapse in segments of society and a clear indication that the country is facing a serious threat that demands comprehensive and continuous action,” said Syaheera in a statement today.
She stressed that the existence and spread of such materials are increasingly exposing children and youths to the risks of exploitation, manipulation, and sexual abuse by addicts and online sexual predators.
At the same time, this situation also highlights existing gaps in enforcement, digital platform monitoring, and the management of social media spaces that require stricter and more professional attention.
Therefore, Syaheera fully supports the government’s move through the Ministry of Communications to establish a minimum age of 16 for opening social media accounts.
“This approach is not intended to restrict the freedom of young people. Rather, it takes into account aspects of emotional maturity, judgment-making ability, and their level of readiness to interact and communicate responsibly in an increasingly complex digital ecosystem,” she explained.
Syaheera also urged authorities to intensify periodic and more frequent monitoring operations on sites, pages, closed groups, and community channels on social media platforms that have the potential to become mediums for the spread of child sexual exploitation content.
“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) and the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) need to strengthen digital monitoring, cyber intelligence, content deactivation, and investigations into involved networks so that preventive actions can be taken earlier before more victims are exposed,” she said.
She called for the ‘whole-of-society’ approach to be strengthened through closer cooperation between SKMM, PDRM, educational institutions, parents, and community leaders.
“Awareness of the latest modus operandi of online sexual predators must be conveyed more comprehensively and consistently, not only to children and youths, but also to parents who are the main protective barrier at home. Digital safety literacy, early detection of warning signs, and clear reporting channels need to be reinforced at all levels,” she added.
Syaheera emphasized that the country needs firm, integrated, and continuous root-level eradication efforts to curb the inhumane addiction to CSAM materials.
“Protection for children cannot be reactive or seasonal. We must act now to ensure our children are always safe from becoming victims of sexual abuse, and so that the country’s digital space remains a safe, ethical, and dignified space for future generations,” she asserted.
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