Lawyers: Neighbours should call for help on cries of abuse

Community care needed: More vigorous and dedicated campaigns encouraging members of the public to report child abuse to the relevant hotline are suggested. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The recent viral case of a seven-year-old boy, believed to have been physically abused and rescued by his neighbours, is an example of how a community can help a defenceless child.

Following the intervention from the public, a 27-year-old relative of the victim and her 30-year-old foreign friend were arrested by the police in Pasir Gudang, Johor.

The action by the neighbours is a prime example of how local communities can play pivotal role in preventing child abuse by learning to care, watch and support each other, Syariah and civil lawyer Nizam Bashir said.

“Child protection is not only about offences occurring under the Child Act. It must be part of everyday life. In some areas, there are neighbourhood social media groups dealing with such issues and holding discussions of it,” he told The Star.

He said more effective programmes should be drawn up for communities’ awareness on what to look out for and possible interventions used in similar cases.

On having visits from an appointed person to ensure the well-being of the children following divorce, Nizam weighed in saying that the Act already had such provisions.

“As such, it is just a matter of vigilant enforcement as well as members of the community and children knowing where and whom they can turn to.”

Litigation lawyer Dajlit Singh noted that Malaysia had everything under terms of law and mechanism but enforcement was still not up to mark.

He cited Child Act, Women and Girls Protection Act, Child Protection Act, Sexual Offences Against Children Act, Child Care Centre Act were laws in place to safeguard children.

“Apart from local laws, Malaysia also ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography,” he pointed out.

“Proper strategy must be in place to ensure the available laws can be properly enforced. In this day and age, fake news spreads fast but when it comes to child abuse, cries go unheard. It is mind boggling,” he added.

Daljit pointed out that in a country where there was an app for everything else, there was none to protect vulnerable kids and women.

He suggested more vigorous and dedicated campaigns encouraging members of the public to report child abuse or child welfare neglect to the relevant hotline.

“There should be a simpler way,” Daljit said.

“I also think some urban folks do not want to “stick their nose” in other people’s business. “Neighbours actually can play a vital role in uncovering child abuse.”

In terms of routine checks to daycare centres and children of divorced parents by an appointed person, Daljit said the ideas were good only on paper. “Much groundwork is needed on this.”

This could be due to the low number of social workers of 3,814 in 2021, which translates into one social worker for every 8,576 Malaysians, he said.

The Dewan Rakyat was told that 1,302 children were physically abused nationwide last year.

Of that number, 679 cases involved boys while 622 were girls.