Barisan MP urges action against Nur Muazara's parents for negligence

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition lawmaker has raised the question on whether action should be taken against the parents of 11-month-old Nur Muazara Ulfa Mohammad Zainal.

“There were early symptoms of child abuse.

“I wish to know if the government will take action against the parents, as this is considered to be a form of negligence of the safety of their children.

“Such abuses do not happen in just a day but over a span of a week or two,” Datuk Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) said when raising a supplementary question during Question and Answer Time in Parliament on Monday (Nov 12).

He raised the question after Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh told lawmakers there were early signs that the child may have been experiencing abuse.

“In Zara's (Nur Muazara) case, the mother said that there were signs as her child would cry and get upset when she saw the babysitter’s husband.

“These are early symptoms or signs that parents can see or pick up,” she said.

Last Friday (Nov 9), Nur Muazara Ulfa died after spending two days at Serdang Hospital in critical condition, believed to be due to physical and sexual abuse by the babysitter’s husband.

Police have detained the babysitter and her husband for further investigations.

Earlier, Yeoh said that the ministry would not encourage the public to depend only on the recently created Child Registry to screen for child offenders, owing to shortcomings that could let offenders slip through.

“Promotions to encourage the use of the registry for screening purpose will not be expanded, as there are worries that some individuals may slip through the screening due to incomplete information,” she said.

Since its creation last year, 536 convicted child offenders have been registered with the Child Registry, according to Yeoh.

However, she said only cases under the Child Act under the purview of the Welfare Department were registered.

“The registry does not include cases which come under the Penal Code,” she clarified.

In a reply, Yeoh said that a “Working With The Children Check” is being developed, and would be implemented next year to screen those who handle children.