PUTRAJAYA, June 22 ― A special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has to be formulated to handle sexual crimes involving children, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.

"I urge that a special SOP to handle sexual crimes involving children should be formed soon,” Najib said during his speech while launching the special court on sexual crimes against children here today.

Najib also said that with the formation of the special court, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, cases of sexual crimes involving children can be concluded in under one year instead of dragging on for a few years.

Najib said that a committee consisting of courts, the Attorney General's Chambers, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, including several NGOs should be formed into order to come with the SOPs.

"The SOPs should fulfil the needs and wants of child witnesses, in line with best practices that are implemented in other countries,” he said.

Najib also said that adequate training should be provided to the lawyers in the court so as to ensure ethical approaches while questioning child witnesses.

The first case is set to be heard at the special court on July 4 ― it is among the 56 cases from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor that has been transferred to the special court.

A senior Sessions Court judge from Klang will act as the judge for the court.