Latest news with #WelfareDepartment
The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Mother of murdered six-year-old attempts suicide amid ongoing investigation
JOHOR BARU: The mother of six-year-old A. Tishant, whose tragic death shocked the nation, is believed to have attempted suicide due to grief and trauma over the incident. Johor women, family and community development committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail confirmed the matter when contacted on Wednesday (July 30). "Yes, yesterday (July 29) we sent officers from the state Welfare Department to offer assistance to the victim's family, but they declined the support. "We were also informed that Tishant's mother had tried to take her own life and was sent to a hospital for treatment," she said. Khairin Nisa added that her office is currently waiting for the hospital's medical report before providing psychological and other forms of support to the grieving family. Tishant was reported missing on July 24 in Taman Bukit Indah, Iskandar Puteri. His father was subsequently detained by police to assist in the investigation. Four days later, the boy's body was discovered buried in Rompin, Jempol. On Tuesday (July 29), strangulation was identified as the cause of death of the child whose body was found buried in Rompin. Negri Sembilan police chief Dep Comm Datuk Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said the post-mortem examination was conducted at Rembau Hospital. "The cause of death is due to strangulation using cable ties. The medical team estimates that the victim died between 9am and 11am on July 23," he said. DCP Ahmad Dzaffir stated that the case is being probed under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder as well as under the Child Act 2001. Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm M. Kumarasan had said the boy's father had lodged a report on the child's disappearance on July 24, claiming that his son went missing near a coffee shop in Taman Bukit Indah. The father was later arrested as a suspect. Jempol police chief Supt Norhisham Mustapar said police seized a hoe believed to have been used to bury the body. The body was found buried near a railway line, far from residential areas. Supt Norhisham said the suspect remains in the custody of Johor police under remand until July 31. "We will question him further once the suspect is brought back here," he said.
New Straits Times
a day ago
- New Straits Times
Police clear criminal elements in Penang child rescue case involving 20 children
GEORGE TOWN: Police have handed over the case of 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, rescued in a welfare operation, to the Penang Welfare Department for further action. Acting state police chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin said no elements of abuse, trafficking or other crimes were found in the police investigation. He said statements were recorded from all the children, including the baby's 20-year-old mother. "It is true this case involved police, but after investigation, we found no criminal elements.... Therefore, we are handing the case back to the department to be investigated under the relevant act," he said when contacted. The children were rescued on July 21 in a joint operation by police and the Welfare Department at two premises in Seberang Prai Tengah, following intelligence reports. Authorities found the children, believed to be of mixed nationalities including locals, living without legal guardians and lacking basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter. Some could speak Mandarin. State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the children, aged between 15 days and 16 years, comprised 10 boys and 10 girls. Twelve of them had no birth certificates, while six had valid documents. Two have since been placed in the care of immediate family members.
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Penang Welfare Dept rescues 20 children including newborn in Ops Abai
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Welfare Department has rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, during a special operation code named Ops Abai, which was carried out simultaneously at two premises in Bukit Mertajam on July 21. State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the special operation, conducted in collaboration with the police, rescued 10 boys and 10 girls from a warehouse located in an industrial area and a house used as an unregistered learning centre. "The children rescued are between 15 days and 16 years, and the infant was found with her biological mother. "Upon inspection, 12 of the children, including the baby, were found to have no birth certificates. Six have valid identification documents, and two have been handed over to their closest guardians. "Initial investigations revealed that some of the children do not have legal guardians and were believed to have lacked basic needs such as food, clothing, and safe shelter. As such, they have been categorised as children in need of care and protection under Section 17 of the Child Act 2001," she said at a press conference on Monday (July 28). Also present was Penang Welfare Department director Rozita Ibrahim. Lim said the operation was the result of months of monitoring and intelligence gathering by the Welfare Department following public complaints late last year about children frequently seen entering and exiting the raided premises. Lim, who also participated in the operation,said the premises were found to be extremely dirty, poorly maintained, and unsuitable for children to live in. She said during the operation, five adults, believed to be the children's caretakers, were also found at the premises and they have been handed over to the police for further action. "These children have various nationalities. Some are believed to be Malaysian based on their identification documents, while the identities of the others are still being verified. All of them speak Mandarin and only know some Malay. "The children have been placed in institutions gazetted as 'safe places' by the government and are under a Temporary Custody Order from the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court. Earlier, they were taken to Seberang Jaya Hospital for health checks and further assessments," she said. Following the rescue, the Welfare Department has established a Special Task Force to coordinate documentation issues and carry out a thorough investigation of the background of each child. This will be conducted in phases with support from the Welfare Department's strategic partners. "The case is still under police investigation. Therefore, the public is advised not to speculate or spread unverified information that could cause confusion or disrupt the investigation,' she added. - Bernama
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
15-day-old baby among 20 children rescued from unsafe care homes in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: A 15-day-old baby girl was among 20 children rescued during a special joint operation carried out by the Welfare Department and police last week. The operation, conducted on July 21 at two premises in Seberang Prai Tengah, followed intelligence reports and inspections by the authorities. It uncovered children believed to be living without legal guardians and deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing, and secure shelter. They are believed to be of different nationalities, including locals. Some were able to converse in Mandarin. State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the children, aged between 15 days and 16 years, comprised 10 boys and 10 girls. She said 12 of them, including the newborn, did not have birth certificates, while six others had valid identification documents. The newborn's mother is a 20-year-old. She added that two children had since been placed in the care of immediate family members. "All the children are now in safe custody and have been placed in gazetted government institutions designated as 'Safe Places'," she said at a press conference today. Lim said the department had received complaints from the public since late last year. "We went to the address provided on numerous occasions but did not find any children in the past. "When we went again last week, we finally found the children. "At a warehouse, we found five caretakers with five children. We then went to a self-run teaching centre in a housing estate where we found another 15 children," she added. She said the warehouse was in an unhygienic state, and some children were found with infections. Lim also said she spoke to some of the children but could not obtain much information. "From the way they talk, it is as if they were taught to reply in such a manner. Some also give 'confusing' information," she said. She said temporary custody orders were issued by the Bukit Mertajam Court and all the children had undergone health screenings at Seberang Jaya Hospital. Lim said the Welfare Department had set up a special task force to coordinate documentation and conduct background investigations on each child, with the process to be carried out in phases with the support of strategic partners from various agencies. "The welfare of every child remains our utmost priority and all actions taken are guided by the principle of the Best Interests of the Child," she said. She also urged members of the public to remain alert to signs of child neglect, abuse, or unlawful custody and to report such cases immediately to the Social Welfare Department or via the Kasih Hotline at 15999.
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Parents seen bringing young children to opposition rally at Dataran Merdeka
KUALA LUMPUR: Several parents were seen bringing their young children to the opposition rally at Dataran Merdeka today. Although the rally was scheduled to begin later in the afternoon, children accompanied by their parents were already present as early as 10.30am. A single mother who declined to be named said she came all the way from Muar, Johor, to support the cause. "I lost my husband in a hit-and-run accident last year and have been receiving RM1,100 from his pension since. "I have two young children aged three and four, and my youngest is autistic," she said, adding that she was having trouble receiving aid from the current administration. She claimed that all requests for aid, be it from the Welfare Department or Zakat, had failed as they said she was receiving a pension. "How can I survive with two young children on such a low income? "I'm not asking for a handout. I just want help in getting my food business operating well so I can take care of my family," she said when met outside a restaurant along Jalan Tun Perak today. Meanwhile, when approached by NSTP reporters, one of the children said he was simply following his father, who was on duty as a member of Pas' volunteer corps, Jabatan Amal. "I don't know much. I'm just following my dad who's on duty here," the child said. Meanwhile, at Masjid Jamek, another rally participant who was seen with a small child claimed he was only there to shop for clothes. When asked if he was aware of the prohibition against bringing young children to the rally at Dataran Merdeka, the man said he planned to return home around noon as he had to go to work. "I won't be bringing my child to Dataran Merdeka later for the rally. I need to go home first because of work. I'll come back in the evening after I'm done," said the man, who lives in Gombak. Police anticipate a turnout of between 10,000 and 15,000 people at today's rally. Participants are set to gather at Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru, and Kompleks Sogo – before converging at Dataran Merdeka. Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the police would facilitate the assembly. A total of 16 roads will be closed for the rally, which is expected to end after 5.15pm.
