A 12-year-old girl in Malaysia, along with four friends, reportedly set up a website and managed a WhatsApp group with 762 members to trade explicit photos, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution revealed in Parliament on Tuesday.
According to Saifuddin, the children photographed their own body parts and sold the images online. The girl allegedly left school after discovering she could earn more each month than her parents’ combined income.
The minister highlighted the complex challenges law enforcement faces when minors are involved in such cases. “When we act against minors, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia reminds us that children cannot be tried in open court. The question then arises: what happens to their future?” Saifuddin said.
He stressed that the issue requires a coordinated response beyond enforcement alone. The Home Ministry, he added, is working with the Ministries of Women, Family and Community Development; Communications; and Education to develop a comprehensive approach to tackle the problem.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)