Make Child Act more inclusive to curb abuse, say lawyers who held watching brief in Bella case

KUALA LUMPUR: The Child Act 2001 needs to be improved to be more inclusive in protecting children from neglect, ill-treatment, abuse and exploitation, said lawyers holding a watching brief in the case of Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali who was charged with neglecting and abusing Down syndrome teenager Bella.

According to a media statement issued by the group of lawyers appointed by Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, cases of neglect and abuse are a manifestation of legal loopholes that need to be immediately covered by making improvements to the law.