Perak booklet to help schoolkids protect themselves from sexual abuse

IPOH: The state government will be launching a guide booklet for schoolchildren on how to protect themselves from sex offenders and violent abusers.

State Women, Family Development, Character Development and Community Welfare Committee chairman Wong May Ing said the booklet is expected to be available by early May.

She said the user-friendly booklets with comic-based storylines would be handed to both primary and secondary school students.

“Over 300,000 students from 1,100 schools statewide will be handed a safety booklet each.

“There will be two different types of booklets for primary and secondary schools.

“The booklets will be available in Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil, and there will an online version available in English,” she told reporters on the sidelines of the state assembly here Thursday (April 18).

Wong said a special programme would also be launched when the booklets were handed to schools.

She said non-governmental organisations, especially those dealing with children, would also be given the booklets.

“We want to create awareness among the children on how to take care of their bodies, what is right and what is not,” she added.

Earlier Wong, in replying to Ng Shy Ching (PKR-Teja), said a total of 1,141 child abuse cases were reported in the state from 2015 to 2018.

“In 2015, a total of 183 cases were recorded, and the following year the figures increased to 299.

“In 2017 there were a total of 318 cases, followed by 341 cases last year,” she said.- Star