Properly regulated sex offender registry can boost public safety, says criminologist

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia can significantly boost public safety without infringing on human rights by establishing a properly regulated sex offender registry, said a criminologist.

Asian Criminological Society board member Datuk Dr P. Sundramoorthy said developed nations, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, had operated such databases for years.

He said Malaysia could easily tailor its own registry to suit local needs rather than duplicating foreign models wholesale.

“The key issue lies in how the registry is designed and governed.

“In most developed jurisdictions, registries are subject to legal safeguards, appeal mechanisms, data protection regulations and varying levels of public accessibility.

“Some systems permit public access only for high-risk offenders while others restrict information primarily to law enforcement and authorised institutions.

“Malaysia can adopt a balanced and context-sensitive approach suited to local realities rather than replicating any foreign model wholesale,” he said.

Sundramoorthy said registries were preventive risk-management tools designed for harm reduction, rather than public humiliation.

From a criminological standpoint, sexual offences involving children cause devastating and lifelong psychological trauma, he said.

With child abuse cases rising annually in Malaysia, Sundramoorthy said preventive mechanisms were just as crucial as punitive measures.

He said Malaysia had a basic framework through the Sexual Crime Registry System (eDKK) and, thus, expanding the mechanism would enhance existing child protection efforts rather than mark a radical policy shift.

He said a well-regulated registry might also improve public confidence in the criminal justice system.

Sundramoorthy said currently, a major source of public frustration in sexual crime cases was the perception that offenders often returned to society without meaningful monitoring.

“Transparent and accountable registration systems can reassure communities that authorities are taking proactive measures to protect vulnerable groups rather than merely reacting after offences occur,” he said.

Sundramoorthy said Malaysia should ensure that any future registry included strict criteria for inclusion, duration of registration, judicial review, rehabilitation assessments and data confidentiality.

The recent statement by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri that establishing a public sex offender registry in the country remains an “uphill task” due to concerns involving human rights and personal data protection has reignited an important national debate.

“While such concerns deserve serious consideration, criminological evidence strongly suggests that a properly regulated sex offender registry can serve as an important public safety mechanism without undermining democratic principles or human rights.

“Juvenile offenders, low-risk offenders and cases involving consensual acts between adolescents may require especially careful consideration.

“A nuanced and evidence-based approach is, therefore, necessary,” he added.

A centralised registry would also improve inter-agency coordination, helping police, schools, and the Welfare Department track repeat offenders who moved across states or professions, said Sundramoorthy.

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المصدر: New Straits Times