PETALING JAYA: Cases of child abuse have increased significantly following the Covid-19 pandemic and is a worrying trend, says a crime watch body.
Kuala Lumpur Crime Prevention Practitioners Association chairman Bok Siew Mun said there were child abuse cases almost everyday.
“Most of these abusers are people who have a close relationship with the victim such as parents, guardians, family members while some are close acquaintances.
“It may be physical, sexual or emotional but can also be due to lack of love, care and attention.
“Household financial problem is one of the factors in cases of abuse where parents consider their children to be a burden to them,” he said when contacted.
Bok said lack of religious education as well as the abuser being a victim of abuse when young also contributed to this pressing issue.
He said another reason that causes incidents of abuse were arguments between parents leading to crisis and stress in the household.
This causes them to take out their anger on innocent children.
“Awareness and prevention are essential. The first step to know if we are facing a case of child abuse is to know the warning signs.
“We must put in place measures to offer intervention and counselling to the victim, introduce good educational programmes to teach caregivers good parenting skills.
“Protection of children should be given high priority by the society and relevant authorities,” he said.
Parents were found to be behind the most number of cases related to abuse of children and minors.
Statistics also showed some 220 cases of children had died from abuse between 2018 and 2022.
Data from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry revealed that between January and June 2022, there were 1,055 cases of child abuse.
