KUALA LUMPUR: The Legal Aid Department has been instructed to help children and their families who became alleged victims of sexual crimes and exploitation in Selangor and Negri Sembilan recently.
The government will not compromise on matters leading to the oppression of children as they are the country's future and their well-being is a shared responsibility, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
"I have contacted the director and instructed the department to assist the children and their families who were victims of this ugly incident by offering 'legal companion’ service.
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"I am deeply saddened, and strongly condemn the incident involving the case of 402 children (rescued from) 20 charity homes... I understand that investigations are ongoing," she said in a Facebook post on Friday (Sept 13).
Azalina said the government placed great emphasis on matters concerning the well-being and safety of children.
She said the government has implemented various measures and initiatives including amending the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 during the last Parliament meeting.
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"The amendment is appropriate and timely because it provides for the competence of child witnesses to testify in any proceeding and eliminates the requirement of mandatory supporting evidence," she said.
On Wednesday (Sept 11), 171 people were arrested after police raided 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan in their investigation of a company claimed to be exploiting children and religion.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said police also rescued 402 children aged one to 17. – Bernama
