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The Star
24-05-2025
- The Star
Abused by parents for three years
Scene of the crime: The apartment complex in Sungai Ara where the pre-teen was living with her parents. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star Girl, 12, caned and caged for every little mistake BALIK PULAU: For three years since she was just nine, a girl here was caned and locked up in a dog cage for every little mistake she made – and the abusers were her parents. The girl, now 12, was repeatedly caned, with the most recent incident happening on Sunday after she mistakenly placed her food in her cupboard. 'The victim also claimed she was put in a dog cage for committing mistakes,' Balik Pulau OCPD Asst Comm Sazalee Adam. The horrifying case came to light when a counsellor at a primary school in Sungai Ara noticed signs of pain and distress in the girl's behaviour and physical condition. The counsellor alerted the headmaster, who immediately reported the matter to the relevant authorities. Child protection officers have since intervened, and both parents have now been remanded. The girl, who had blue-black bruises and welts on her hands and back, is now under the care of the Welfare Department, with a child protection officer watching over her. State welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said she is receiving treatment at Penang Hospital and is in stable condition. Lim said the parents, who came to give their statements at the Balik Pulau police headquarters, have since been remanded. 'The 47-year-old father admitted to physically hurting the child, while the mother denied any involvement in the confinement,' he added. Both parents have been barred from visiting the child at the hospital after her revelations. Lim said the victim's 15-year-old sibling, who is now with their grandmother, will also be evaluated by welfare department officers. She said efforts are currently underway to trace other relatives who could care for the children. 'I deeply appreciate the swift action taken by the school, the social welfare department, the police and the medical team,' she said, adding that the state government takes all child abuse cases seriously. She stressed that there is no place for neglect, abuse or violence in society. ACP Sazalee said the father has been remanded from Wednesday to today. The mother was remanded from Thursday to tomorrow, he added. Police are investigating the case under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
New Straits Times
23-05-2025
- New Straits Times
337 schools joined child protection advocacy programme last year
KUNAK: A total of 337 schools across the country participated in the Child Protection Advocacy Programme: Kasih Kanak-Kanak last year, surpassing the initial 300-school target, said the Welfare Department. Its deputy director-general (Operations) Rosmahwati Ishak said the encouraging response indicates that school communities are keen to have more of such awareness programmes. "Therefore, this year, the department has decided to expand the programme to 300 schools nationwide, with 25 schools in Sabah," she told Bernama at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Selamat here yesterday. Rosmahwati attended the Kasih Kanak-Kanak Child Protection Advocacy Programme, officiated by theWomen, Family and Community Development Ministry deputy-secretary general (Operations) Farah Adura Hamidi, in conjunction with the Kembara Kasih KPWKM 2025 initiative. Rosmahwati, who spoke on behalf of the Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, emphasised that collaboration between residents and the school community, including teachers, students, parents, and the Parent-Teacher Association, is crucial because ensuring children's safety is a shared responsibility. "We are aware that child protection cases have been rising year after year, which is why this collaborative movement must continue to ensure that awareness of child protection remains at the highest level," she said. Meanwhile, Rosmahwati said this year's advocacy programme features greater variety, including promoting elements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). She also noted that incidents of child abuse and neglect are of deep concern in Malaysia, with Sabah alone recording 1,575 cases in 2024. "This figure is more just a statistic as it represents 1,575 tales of pain, trauma, and injustice experienced by children who deserve to be protected and loved," she said. She urged the public to utilise the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline and the Whatsapp number at 019-2615999 to get prompt assistance for cases of abuse and neglect involving children. "We encourage more people to come forward and use this hotline to report any suspected cases, especially those involving child safety and protection, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse," she said, adding that the public can channel information and tackle the surge in child abuse and neglect incidents. – Bernama
The Star
22-05-2025
- The Star
Beggars line KL's busy streets
KUALA LUMPUR: The popular malls of Kuala Lumpur buzz with activity, as people mingle with tourists soaking in the capital's sights. Yet amidst this vibrant scene, a stark contrast emerges: individuals in shabby attire line the sidewalks, some asleep by the roadside, others loitering unkempt. The beggar issue in Kuala Lumpur is hard to miss. In the bustling Bukit Bintang area, some beggars sell tissues, while others silently extend plastic cups to passing tourists and locals alike. 'These people arrive around 10am and sit there throughout the day,' said a restaurant worker. 'They don't really disturb anyone but just linger in front of the shops,' added a man, who wanted to be known as Ahmad. 'They often remain in the area until late at night.' When it drizzled, the vagrants left but returned as soon as the weather cleared. One had a box of medication, while another was with a child and a stroller. In the Masjid Jamek area, several sat along the road selling mostly textiles. 'They usually move around. Yesterday, we saw a man sitting next to our shop but today, it's a woman with a child,' said a shopkeeper who identified himself as Yusof. Raju, a roadside vendor, said he often sees them shift closer to the shopping mall later in the day. 'During the afternoon, they are usually lined up along the roadside but when it's cooler in the day, they will sit near the shopping mall walkways instead,' he said. In Petaling Street, a woman and child were seen sitting at the intersection, asking for alms. The toddler slept in the woman's arms as she held a plastic cup filled with small change, with a nearby plastic bag containing RM1 notes. A passer-by who stopped to give money said she could not stand seeing people in such conditions. 'Regardless if it's legitimate or not, it's really sad to see. The least I could do is give some money so she can buy a meal,' said the woman who declined to be named. According to Welfare Department statistics, 1,184 operations were carried out nationwide last year, with the highest number in Selangor (187), Penang (179), Perak (158) and Johor (118). These included joint, scheduled and ad-hoc operations. In January this year, 92 operations were conducted nationwide.
New Straits Times
17-05-2025
- New Straits Times
Disabled child's future uncertain as Bangladeshi father faces deportation
Slug: izbangladeshi HL: Disabled child's future uncertain as Bangladeshi father faces deportation Ahmad Hasbi SEREMBAN: A disabled seven-year-old girl is now under the care of her Bangladeshi father following the death of her Malaysian mother. However, the father, Mohammad Ala Uddin, 39, holds only a temporary visitation pass that expires on May 27, and he is not eligible to work in Malaysia. Ala Uddin said his daughter, Siti Aminah Mohammad Ala Uddin, a Malaysian citizen, was born without a womb, has hearing difficulties, a single kidney, and a disability affecting her right hand. "I returned to Bangladesh previously and re-entered Malaysia at the end of April to apply for a long-term visitation pass. "However, after completing the documents, my wife passed away last Sunday, and now I am the sole caregiver for my daughter. "It is more difficult to apply for the temporary pass now that my wife has died. I am worried about my daughter's future if I am arrested or deported," he told Harian Metro when met in Senawang yesterday. The late Nur Shaillah Revathy Abdullah, 35, a Muslim convert, died last Sunday due to heart complications. The father, who married in 2017, is currently ineligible to work and relies on the RM300 monthly assistance from the Welfare Department, which is channelled under his daughter's name. When asked why he had never applied for a long-term visitation pass before, Ala Uddin was unable to explain clearly due to a language barrier. However, he said he had previously attempted to apply through an intermediary but was cheated out of RM7,500 without any application being submitted. His neighbour, Nor Azlina Helan Harold, 47, said the mother had worked as a cleaner and always picked up her daughter after school. "They are in a difficult situation, and it has only worsened now because Aminah is being cared for by her father, who is a Bangladeshi national," she said. Meanwhile, Persatuan Cakna Rasa Sayang (PCRS) patron Zulkifli Muhamed said his team was specifically called in to assist Siti Aminah and safeguard her future. "PCRS is committed to helping this man, not only in terms of living assistance and verifying his residence status in the country, but most importantly in ensuring that this child receives adequate support, including in matters of religious belief," he said. He added that his association would assist the single father in applying for a long-term visitation pass at the Immigration Department office in Putrajaya as soon as possible. Zulkifli also expressed concern that the father's current visitation pass status could jeopardise his daughter's well-being and cut off his source of income, as he is unable to work legally.
Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Sabah first to pass Islamic Adoption Enactment
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 Text Size: The adoption process will begin with an evaluation by the Welfare Department, followed by proceedings in the Syariah Court and concluding with the issuance of an adoption certificate by the NRD. - Pic for illustration only. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah made history by becoming the first State in the country to pass the Islamic Adoption Enactment. State Chief Syarie Judge Datuk Ahadin Arinen said the Enactment, which was passed by the State Assembly at the end of 2024, would streamline the adoption process for Muslims. Previously, such adoptions were only guided by internal procedures established in 2005. Advertisement 'This Enactment provides an avenue for Muslims to formally apply for child adoption through the Syariah Court, unlike before, where the process involved civil courts or native courts,' he told the media after paying a courtesy visit to Head of State Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu. Ahadin said the Enactment involves three main agencies - the Syariah Court, the Sabah Social Welfare Department and the Sabah National Registration Department (NRD). 'The adoption process will begin with an evaluation by the Welfare Department, followed by proceedings in the Syariah Court and concluding with the issuance of an adoption certificate by the NRD. 'Among the key criteria outlined in the Enactment is that both the applicant and the adopted child must be Muslim and the process must comply with existing laws and national security policies. 'Although we didn't have a specific enactment before, we have been implementing this process since 2005 based on the 2006 General Guidelines and Procedures for Adoption in the Syariah Court, and we've handled more than 100 adoption cases annually,' he said. Ahadin also said Sabah has established its own Supreme Syariah Court, becoming the second State after Perak to set up the highest institution within the State's Syariah judicial structure. 'The establishment of the Supreme Syariah Court is in line with our efforts to strengthen the Syariah judicial system and provide the best justice for the Muslim community in Sabah. We are truly grateful to be a pioneering state in both of these initiatives,' he said. Also present during the visit were Senior Syariah High Court Judge of Sabah, Nawawi Diman; Syariah High Court Judges, Ade Rizal Pahlevi Mohd Zen and Taherah Tahir; Senior Judge of the Syariah Lower Court, Awang Jalimin Matiasin; Registrar of the Sabah Syariah Judiciary Department, Mohd Yusuf Nureddin; and Chief Syarie Judge's Research Officer Nooryasmensharini Abas. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
