KUCHING: A child abuse victim in Saratok is now under the care of child protection officers and counsellors while police investigate the case, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic).
The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said the 11-year-old girl, who was allegedly abused by her adoptive mother, has been sent to Hospital Saratok for treatment.
“Child protection officers and counsellors are with the victim in the hospital to discuss a temporary placement.
“For now, no visits from anyone else are allowed,” she told reporters after closing the Dayung Warisan young heritage leaders programme here yesterday.
Police arrested a 47-year-old woman in Saratok, in central Sarawak, after a report was made on Feb 7 by a teacher concerned for the victim’s safety.
The victim was allegedly hit with a hard object and slapped by her adoptive mother at about 6.30pm on Feb 5, resulting in injuries to her face and back.
Police also seized a hose which was believed to have been used in the incident.
Nancy said her ministry will continue to carry out advocacy programmes, including among children, to raise awareness on child safety and protection.
As a result of the advocacy, she said, many children now know they can call the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline for help.
“I don’t like to see children being abused, but with this hotline, the children themselves have called for help.
“This means they understand the process,” she said.
Separately, Nancy said the Dayung Warisan programme aimed to equip women with the skills, resources and confidence to research, document and share their cultural heritage, not just to preserve the past but to make heritage accessible and meaningful for the present and future.
A total of 27 women from across Sarawak completed the two-month programme, producing 18 pilot heritage projects ranging from documentaries and podcasts to digital archives, craft workshops and interactive installations.
“Each project is different but they share one common purpose – to tell our stories in our own voices.
“This is powerful because culture is strongest when it comes from the community itself,” she said.
Nancy added that initiatives like Dayung Warisan were important to ensure that Sarawak’s heritage was interpreted and shared by Sarawakians themselves.
