JOHOR BARU: Two young siblings, aged three and eight, have been rescued from a home in Skudai following allegations of severe neglect and unsafe living conditions. They are now under the care of the Social Welfare Department (SWD).
Johor women, family, and community development committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail confirmed that the children—a three-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl—were removed from their mother’s custody and placed at a children’s protection centre in Johor Baru.
"Their parents are divorced and both have criminal records related to drug offences. The mother is currently staying with a new partner, who is also a known drug addict.
"The children were found to be living without proper supervision, and their safety was clearly at risk. We had no choice but to intervene," she said when contacted on Monday (April 7).
The rescue followed a viral Facebook post by Skudai assemblyman Marina Ibrahim, detailing disturbing claims about the children’s welfare, including reports from neighbours that the children were forced to beg for food and were seen wandering at night.
In her post, Marina stated she had been assisting the family for some time, including arranging for the children's schooling and welfare support, despite the family living outside her constituency.
She alleged that the mother had repeatedly lied about her circumstances and refused to cooperate during welfare checks.
At one point, she claimed the mother pretended to be asleep and refused to open the door, only responding when authorities threatened police action.
"When we asked to see inside the house, we were told no one else was there. But a man was later found hiding in the house, and police checks revealed he had a criminal record.
"Drug paraphernalia was also found, although some had reportedly been flushed down the toilet before we could secure them," Marina wrote.
Neighbours, including non-Muslim families, had also come forward to describe how they cared for the children, offering them food and shelter when they were found outside at night.
One neighbour was quoted as saying she had bathed, clothed, and fed the children out of concern for their wellbeing.
"The children were the ones who suffered the most — they tried so hard to protect their mother.
"But kids are innocent, and it’s not their fault," Marina said, expressing hope that the authorities would continue to prioritise the children’s safety and prevent them from becoming victims of a destructive cycle.
"This is not about punishing the parents, but about giving the children a real chance at a better life," she added.
When contacted, Marina shared that two other children, aged 13 and 15, had previously been placed in a welfare home in 2022 after being found out of school and living in similar conditions.
Since then, they have resumed their education and are now progressing well.
"We did not remove the younger two earlier as we didn’t want to break their bond with their mother. But with what we have now uncovered, it is no longer safe for them to stay there," she said.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh has confirmed a police report was lodged on the case and said that the matter is now being handled by the SWD.
