KUALA LUMPUR: An additional Special Criminal Court on Sexual Crimes Against Children (JSKK) is necessary to deal with the high number of cases in the states, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

       The chairman of the Special Select Committee on Women and Children Affairs and Social Development said she requested a courtesy call to the Chief Justice to discuss this for a solution.

       “This includes increasing the number of special posts of Grade Jusa C judicial officers for JSKK court judges, developing capacity and strengthening the cooperation of various agencies to expedite the disposal of these cases,” she said in a statement.

       The decision was made at the third meeting of the special select committee recently.

       Other decisions included for the Malaysian Human Rights Commission to prepare a research paper on the mechanism for the establishment of an independent commission for children.

       Apart from that, the Pengerang MP said that three working committees have been formed under the Committee to Address Domestic Violence (JMKRT) – Advocacy and Capacity Development, Protection and Data.

       She said the direction of the committee was to refine actions and mechanisms for the implementation and handling of cases holistically and effectively, including improving aspects of advocacy, protection and data reporting.

       The meeting, she said, also agreed to involve members of the special select committee as observers in JMKRT.

       “For the next meeting, the special select committee has proposed to also invite non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders,” she added.

       Separately, in a Facebook post, Azalina expressed her gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for appointing her as Special Adviser (Law and Human Rights).

       “Thank you YAB Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob for the trust. Insya-Allah, I will do my best for the country,” she said while sharing a photo of her receiving the appointment letter from the Prime Minister.

       The former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker received the appointment letter on Thursday.

       On Aug 23, she resigned from the post to allow the government and the Opposition to reset the Dewan Rakyat. — Bernama