Will Act 792 cover overseas offences involving Malaysian citizen child victims?

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Act 792 will cover overseas offences involving Malaysian citizen child victims under the proposed amendment.
The Sexual Offences Against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026 aims to extend Act 792’s reach to offences committed outside Malaysia, including cases involving child victims who are Malaysian citizens. The amendment to section 3 states that overseas offences are punishable under Act 792 when they involve a child who is a Malaysian citizen or a permanent resident.
The amendment to section 3 expands punishment for offences outside Malaysia
The Bill’s proposed changes to section 3 of Act 792 provide that offences committed outside Malaysia can be punishable under the Act when they involve a child who is a Malaysian citizen or a permanent resident. It also specifies that the Act would apply to sexual offences against children committed overseas by Malaysian citizens or permanent residents.
It widens extra-territorial coverage beyond just Malaysian offenders
The proposed substitution of section 3 is designed to expand extra-territorial application to offences specified in the Schedule involving child victims committed outside Malaysia. This includes situations where the offender is a permanent resident or a person whose habitual residence is in Malaysia, as well as any person against a child who is a Malaysian citizen, a permanent resident, or a habitual resident in Malaysia.
The Bill is currently moving through Parliament
The Sexual Offences against Children (Amendment) Bill 2026 was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on June 23 by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said. She said the Bill would be tabled for its second reading during the current parliamentary sitting.

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Will Act 792 cover overseas offences involving Malaysian citizen child victims?

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