← Back to list

Dewan Rakyat Give Nod to Better Protect Children Against Sex Crimes

Mar 29, 2023

Parliament has passed amendments to the Sexual Offences against Children act. 

The Law and Institutional Reform Minister says the amendments will better protect children against sex crimes, and help the law keep up with technological advances. 

The amendments, among others, make it a criminal offence to blackmail children for sexual purposes. 

It also criminalises the live-streaming of sex acts involving children.

-

The individual tax relief for SSPN contributions has been extended until 2024.

PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the relief will be up to 8 thousand ringgit annual net
savings in the education fund.

Previously, the Finance Ministry said the SSPN tax relief would be discontinued, as the
government was already giving other exemptions, such as lower income taxes and
higher relief for medical expenses.

However, several parties had voiced their disagreement to the decision.

-

All MPs will have to undergo a yearly health check starting from the next session in May.

DPM Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says this includes members from both the
government and opposition.

He adds that the decision was made after taking into account the nine elected reps who
died due to non-communicable diseases while serving in 2018 to 2020.