Revive Talian NUR, govt urged

PETALING JAYA: Following last week’s death of a seven-year-old due to alleged abuse, the Children’s Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal, has urged for a special helpline for children to be reintroduced.She said that the current Talian Kasih at 15999 did not provide for such a dedicated line. (Besides handling problems about children, Talian Kasih also deals with cases related to teenagers and domestic violence, among others.)

And if the special helpline known previously as Talian NUR is revived, she said it should be handled by trained staff with psycho-social qualifications.

“The government should also undertake more efforts to ensure children’s safety, particularly those who live in the rural areas, ” she said in a statement.

The Talian NUR alert system – modelled after the United States’ Amber alert – was mooted in 2007 after the body of eight-year-old Nurin Jazlin Jaziman, who was sexually assaulted and murdered, was found in a gym bag.

The helpline was then renamed Talian Kasih.

Noor Aziah said the present Talian Kasih line and the WhatsApp hotline [phone] should be promoted on social media platforms, television, radio and on public advertisement boards.

“The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is also urged to make full use of the provisions in the Child Act on the appointment of assistant protectors among NGOs, ” she said.

Noor Aziah stressed that it was pertinent for foster families to register themselves with the Welfare Department as it would allow the child’s wellbeing and safety to be monitored by the department and also to provide necessary advice if the biological parents decide to take back the child.

“While foster care is encouraged, the Welfare Department should provide the proper procedures for those who wish to do so in order to protect the child, should the legal guardian wish to take the child back into their care, ” she added.

Last Friday, a seven-year-old boy died of suspected abuse by his birth mother and stepfather in Melaka.

The boy is said to have drowned in a tub in his house but initial investigations by police found physical injuries on the body.

He was raised by his adopted family in Rawang, Selangor, who looked after him since he was a baby.

His birth mother returned to take him back in October last year.