Minding the minders

What a week it has been for Malaysia. We watched blatant cruelty unfold before our very eyes, which forces all Malaysians to rethink, where do we stand when it comes to humanity, basic human rights, dignity, and morality?

Bella’s case calls for attention on the rampant child abuse happening in the country. On average there are 17 children abused daily in Malaysia, a figure that is based on reported cases. The real figure is hidden below the tip of an iceberg. Abuse cases in facilities entrusted to care for vulnerable children are more likely to go unreported, and this includes children attending unregistered and unregulated religious schools in many parts of the country. Some welfare and informal educational institutions simply fall through the cracks of government regulations and monitoring.