Schools should establish trusted and accessible channels for children to report sexual abuse instead of relying solely on annual health screenings to detect such cases, says the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
Its children’s commissioner, Adib Samuri, said every school should have a trained officer whom students know, trust and feel comfortable approaching when they need help.
He also called for an independent reporting channel outside schools, noting that alleged abusers could sometimes be teachers, staff members or others connected to the institution.
“Children disclose abuse when they feel safe and believe something will be done. We need to build that trust every day rather than wait for an annual health screening,” he told FMT.
Adib also stressed the importance of regular and private check-ins with vulnerable groups, particularly students in boarding schools and children with disabilities.
His comments followed the recent discovery of two long-term sexual abuse cases in Johor during routine school health screenings conducted by Health Ministry teams.
While supporting the expansion of school health screenings nationwide, Adib said the process must be conducted privately and in an environment free from fear, stigma and judgement.
He said the Johor cases demonstrated that school health teams could provide an important safety net, particularly when an alleged abuser was someone close to the child.
However, he said any nationwide expansion should be accompanied by improvements to the way screenings are conducted.
Adib also pointed to existing provisions under the Child Act 2001. Section 29A allows school staff to make voluntary reports, while Section 27 makes reporting mandatory for medical officers.
He said the government should consider whether a clear mandatory reporting duty should also apply to selected professionals who work closely with children, including teachers, nurses and counsellors.
However, he stressed that mandatory reporting should only apply when there are reasonable grounds for suspicion, with legal protection provided to those who report in good faith.
“The focus should be on protecting children, not creating fear among staff that could lead to unnecessary or careless reports,” he said.
Adib also criticised the handover process between schools, the Health Ministry, the Social Welfare Department and police, describing the current system as fragmented.
He said children should not be passed between agencies while authorities determine who is responsible.
“Once abuse is suspected, the report, immediate safety assessment, medical care, police investigation and psychosocial support should move together,” he said.
Adib further called for practical body-safety education to be permanently incorporated into the national school curriculum, allowing children to understand personal boundaries and learn how to seek help.
“We must remember that adults remain responsible for preventing abuse and creating a safe environment,” he said.
