The government is exploring the possibility of expanding a special court which handles cases involving sexual crimes against children to Selangor, Johor, and Penang.

Law Minister Azalina Othman Said was responding to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who had said in a speech that the initiative will be expanded in stages to all states in Malaysia.

Najib was speaking today at the official launch of the country's first special court on sexual crimes against children at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya.

"About (the) need for a similar court, we are looking at Selangor, Johor and Penang.

"Those are the states that will have a lot of cases registered. We hope some of the important courts that are needed because of the volume (of cases) can be established by this year; if not, we are targeting early next year," Azalina said in a press conference after the launch of the special court.

The setting up of the court is in tandem with the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 that was passed by Parliament last April.

The special court will be operational starting July 4.

To study law amendments

Meanwhile, responding to Najib's call for special standard operating procedures to be formulated to handle cases involving sexual crimes against children, Azalina, who heads the task force on the matter said the task force will also determine any need to amend the Act on child sexual crimes.

"We will monitor the cases and see (the Act's) effectiveness. We will amend the Act if there is something lacking.

"We have to utilise the law and see the implementation, whether there are lacunas or loopholes," she said.

She however noted how debate on the matter in Parliament had covered almost "all issues" that can be raised in court.

Meanwhile, speaking about provision of a witness room for child witnesses in sexual crime cases, Azalina said this is where the role of a legal companion becomes important.

"We are looking into allowing the Legal Aid Department to participate as legal companions.

"In some cases, not every victim has the financial capacity to appoint their own lawyers for watching brief. This is where the government must come in to assist (in terms of) the legal companion.”

Different from welfare officers, who may be tasked to assist a child on welfare, emotional or psychological issues, legal companions would ensure that the child witness can be guided on questions posed during court proceedings.