Welfare Dept unable to locate Rohingya girl and family

GEORGE TOWN: A Rohingya girl who nearly became a child bride before authorities intervened last year has disappeared from the Penang Social Welfare Department’s radar.

Department deputy director R. Chitarthany believed the girl and her family moved to Alor Setar, Kedah, last year.

“When we last visited the family on April 4 last year, we could not find them. They are said to have moved to Alor Setar.

“The case worker who made the visit said he was told by neighbours that the family had moved but did not leave their new address.

“This could be because they do not want further interference from the relevant authorities and do not want to get in touch with those who know them, ” she said.

In February last year, police stopped the then 11-year-old girl from being married off to a man 10 years her senior.

Lifebridge Learning Centre director K. Sudhagaran Stanley Singh alerted the police before advising the girl’s father to call off the wedding at the 11th hour.

The centre is a school for Rohingya children funded by NGOs.

The girl’s father is said to be a building contractor. He was allegedly facing financial difficulties at the time, but apparently agreed to postpone the marriage until the girl was old enough after being advised by the authorities.

The state Islamic affairs department had banned the marriage and the father had said he would wait until she reached the legal age to marry.

The case was referred to the Social Welfare Department and police also informed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Malaysia and the Penang Religious Affairs Department about the incident.