KUALA LUMPUR: The rescued children are now in a safe place, under the care of the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and police supervision, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.
A total of 402 children aged between one and 17 were rescued after police raided 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan on Wednesday.
ALSO READ: Leader denies slavery claims
Police said 13 of these children are believed to have been sodomised while others were subjected to physical and emotional harm.
“I want to assure you that the children are protected and cared for. Their welfare is being well taken care of,” said the Women, Family and Community Development Minister.
The ministry, she said, has been involved in this operation through JKM.
“JKM’s role in this matter is to provide appropriate protection, care and support to the rescued children so that they feel comfortable and safe,” she said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Nancy said she had not issued an initial statement or response to the case to allow the authorities to carry out their duties smoothly.
On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed the relevant authorities, including Islamic religious departments and councils, to immediately investigate and take appropriate action relating to the GISB issue.
Meanwhile, according to the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), it is mandatory for children who reach six years old to be provided with primary education, from Year One to Year Six, and parents who fail to adhere to this will be subjected to action under Section 29A of the Education Act 1996.
Suhakam’s Office of the Children’s Commissioner principal assistant secretary Izyan Hazwani Ahmad said parents who send their children to charity homes at a young age may not only be prosecuted under the Education Act, but can also be punished under the Child Act 2001.
“Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 provides that neglect involving failure to send children to school may result in heavier penalties,” she told Bernama.
“However, it is difficult to bring these cases to court because of the poverty dilemma, but if there is clearly an element of neglect, the parents can be convicted.”
On Wednesday, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department raided 20 charity homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan, rescuing 402 individuals, aged one to 17, believed to have been victims of exploitation.
According to the investigation, the residents of the charity home, who are third and fourth-generation residents, did not receive formal education, but instead only studied at the charity home, which is an offence.
Yayasan Chow Kit co-founder Datuk Dr Hartini Zainudin said some parents are unaware of the importance of mainstream education and view charity homes as a sufficient alternative.
“The results of a study found 80% of children sent to charity homes are not orphans, but come from families experiencing economic, social and security problems,” she said.
Malaysian Council for Child Welfare president Datuk Dr Raj Karim described the action of parents who send their children to charity homes without the supervision of relatives or parents for a long period of time as being irresponsible.
In Seremban, Education director-general Azman Adnan said the ministry is ready to provide education to the 402 children, noting that primary education for children is compulsory under the Education Act.
“The investigation into the case is ongoing, so we will wait for the results of the police probe and see where we can assist to ensure that these children receive education just like other children,” he told reporters after the 23rd commencement ceremony of Institut Aminuddin Baki yesterday.
