Child abuse cases rise in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore. Why?

Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore have all recorded rising numbers of child abuse cases in recent years, but child welfare advocates say this may be a sign of progress rather than worsening violence, as greater awareness and improved reporting bring more cases to the attention of authorities.

“The good news is that more people are reporting,” said Hartini Zainuddin, a veteran advocate for abused children in Malaysia.

Official figures show growing caseloads in all three countries, but differences...