KUALA LUMPUR – The Child Act 2001 needs to be improved for it to be more inclusive in protecting children from neglect, ill treatment, abuse, and exploitation, said a group of lawyers holding a watching brief in the case of Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, who was charged with neglecting and abusing a girl with Down’s Syndrome.
According to a media statement issued by the group of lawyers appointed by Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, cases of neglect and abuse are a manifestation of legal loopholes that need to be immediately covered with improvements to the law.
“It is important to ensure that the operation of childcare centres is only carried out by those who are well-trained. The centres cannot be made a medium to collect donations or contributions from any party,” it read.
The lawyers comprise Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat, Datuk Baljit Singh Sidhu, Datuk Ikbal Salam, and Mohd Radzi Yatiman.
They said the Social Welfare Department and National Council for Children need to immediately activate a comprehensive policy and action plan for children.
“Policies and plans that already exist should be activated to ensure that cases of child neglect and abuse, like the case of Bella, do not happen again.
“These plans and policies need to be implemented with strict compliance, not seasonally when there is a case of child abuse,” read the statement.
The lawyers said the injuries caused in the abuse of Bella could cause mental, emotional, and physical trauma.
“We, as the lawyers appointed by the Tunku Mahkota Johor to hold a watching brief in the case, express our appreciation to the ‘Justice for Bella’ activists who opened the public’s eyes to the abuse that took place, and also thank the Tunku Mahkota of Johor and his wife for their concern,” read the statement.
Siti Bainun, 31, was sentenced to a total of 22 years in prison by the sessions court here after she was found guilty of two counts of neglecting and abusing Bella.
The court sentenced her to 10 years in prison for neglect and 12 years in prison for abuse, but Siti Bainun only has to serve 12 years in prison as the court ordered the jail sentences to be served concurrently from today. – Bernama, May 3, 2023
