The incidence of sexual assault against children in 2023 saw a significant increase, of 21.1 percent, with reported cases rising to 1,389, from 1,147 in 2022, said chief statistician Mohd Uzir Mahidin.

In a statement released alongside the publication of the Children Statistics Malaysia, 2024, today, he noted that non-physical sexual offences and child sexual abuse material accounted for 91 and 67 cases respectively, in 2023.

Additionally, the number of sexual offences involving children reported to the police surged by...