PARLIAMENT | The Sexual Offences Against Children Bill which seeks to protect those under the age of 18 from paedophiles was passed in the Dewan Rakyat.

This followed a heated debate which lasted from yesterday and continued until almost 6pm today.

They also raised concerns about the bill's impact on youths under the age of 18, who are classified as children under the law, but above the age of sexual consent which is 16.

This included whether sexually-charged messages between two consenting youths above the age of consent would be criminalised under Section 12 of the bill regarding sexually explicit communications with a child.

No 'sweetheart defence'

Dr Michael Jeyakumar (PSM-Sungai Siput) also proposed that exceptions be made for those whose age difference is less than three years, as not to punish youths with heavy sentences.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said, who oversaw the bill, said police and prosecutors may take into consideration if the youths were in an actual relationship.

However, she stressed later that the government does not accept the "sweetheart defence"

"In the case of the sweetheart defence, the three year age difference, the government does not accept it, because when we look at physical sexual assault on a child, it is an offence regardless of who did it," she said.

Meanwhile, the opposition also raised issues on the law's efficacy as child marriages are still legal.

Frustrated minister

Frustrated by the constant arguments by the opposition for the law to be tightened, Azalina at one point accused the opposition of siding with the perpetrators.

"Since yesterday... they sided with perpetrators, where is the justice for the victims?" she asked.

Jeyakumar however said this remarks were unfair and "below the belt" as the opposition was merely trying to improve the Bill.

None of the opposition's proposals to amend the bill were accepted.

In a statement after the bill was passed, Azalina said she would propose that a special crimes court be set up to deal with sexual crimes against children.

She said she would meet with newly minted Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif soon to discuss the setting up of the special court.