Home Civil Society Voices Pendekatan holistik diperlukan untuk melindungi keselamatan dan kebajikan kanak-kanak (Malay/English)

Pendekatan holistik diperlukan untuk melindungi keselamatan dan kebajikan kanak-kanak (Malay/English)

For illustration only - GERD ALTMANN/PIXABAY

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Badan Peguam Malaysia amat terkejut dan bimbang dengan pendedahan yang mengerikan berikutan serbuan oleh polis ke atas 20 rumah kebajikan di Selangor dan Negeri Sembilan, yang dipercayai dikendalikan oleh Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding.

Laporan mengenai penderaan, pengantunan (grooming) dan eksploitasi seksual yang sistemik terhadap mangsa kanak-kanak di pusat-pusat ini amat mengejutkan dan menyayat hati.

Badan Peguam Malaysia menyokong sepenuhnya tindakan segera yang diambil oleh polis dan pihak berkuasa lain yang terlibat, termasuk Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat dan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia.

Badan Peguam Malaysia, bersama Pesuruhjaya Kanak-Kanak Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, mengecam keras pelanggaran melampau yang dialami oleh kanak-kanak dalam rumah-rumah kebajikan ini.

Rumah-rumah ini, yang sepatutnya memberikan penjagaan dan perlindungan, malangnya, telah bertukar menjadi tempat penderaan yang mengerikan.

Apa yang terjadi ini sama sekali tidak boleh diterima dalam mana-mana masyarakat yang mengutamakan keselamatan dan kesejahteraan anak-anaknya.

Dalam kita memuji campur tangan pihak berkuasa, kita mesti mengakui bahawa kes yang dilaporkan ini mungkin hanyalah permulaan.

Hakikat bahawa rumah-rumah jagaan ini telah beroperasi selama bertahun-tahun tanpa pengawasan yang sewajarnya menimbulkan persoalan yang membimbangkan tentang rangka kerja kawal selia sedia ada.

Badan Peguam Malaysia menyeru agar semua badan kawal selia, bukan sahaja polis dan Jabatan Kebajikan, menguatkuasakan langkah pematuhan yang lebih ketat dan memastikan rumah-rumah ini dipantau dan dikawal dengan teliti.

Adalah penting untuk kita menggunakan pendekatan holistik bagi mengelakkan tragedi tersebut berulang. Ini termasuk bukan sahaja tindakan segera terhadap pelaku, tetapi juga melaksanakan pembaharuan jangka panjang terhadap sistem yang mengawasi rumah-rumah ini.

Kami menggesa kerajaan untuk mempertimbangkan penubuhan suruhanjaya siasatan diraja (royal commission of inquiry), seperti yang dicadangkan oleh Dr Farah Nini dalam kenyataan media Suhakam, untuk menyiasat secara menyeluruh kelemahan yang membenarkan penderaan ini berlarutan selama bertahun-tahun.

READ MORE:  Crime against children committed behind 'facade of religion' - children's commissioner

Penemuan suruhanjaya ini diharapkan dapat membawa pembaharuan bermakna dalam dasar perlindungan kanak-kanak dan mekanisme pengawasan institusi.

Badan Peguam Malaysia juga menekankan kepentingan kesedaran dan penyertaan awam. Adalah penting bagi rakyat untuk menyedari bahawa rumah jagaan yang tidak dikawal mempunyai risiko yang besar, terutamanya terhadap golongan rentan (vulnerable groups), seperti kanak-kanak.

Kami menyeru setiap anggota masyarakat untuk bekerjasama dengan pihak berkuasa, melaporkan sebarang aktiviti mencurigakan dan berperanan aktif dalam menjaga kebajikan anak-anak kita.

Badan Peguam Malaysia ingin merakamkan penghargaan kepada Azalina Othman Said atas arahan beliau kepada Jabatan Bantuan Guaman untuk menyediakan khidmat pendamping guaman kepada kanak-kanak serta ahli keluarga.

Dalam hal ini, Badan Peguam Malaysia bersedia untuk memberikan bantuan serta sokongan yang tidak berbelah bahagi kepada mangsa-mangsa terbabit.

Kita tidak boleh membiarkan penderaan mengerikan seperti ini terus diabaikan begitu sahaja.

Badan Peguam Malaysia akan terus memperjuangkan keadilan untuk mangsa dan memastikan tindakan sewajarnya diambil untuk menghapuskan ancaman ini dalam masyarakat kita.

Bersama-sama, kita mesti berusaha mewujudkan persekitaran yang lebih selamat agar hak dan maruah setiap kanak-kanak dilindungi. – Badan Peguam

Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab ialah presiden Majlis Peguam Malaysia.

English version

Holistic approach needed to protect children’s safety and welfare

The Malaysian Bar is horrified at the distressing revelations following the raids conducted by the police on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, believed to be operated by Global Ikhwan Service and Business Holding.

The reports of systemic sexual abuse, grooming and exploitation of child victims within these centres are both shocking and heartbreaking.

The Malaysian Bar expresses its utmost support for the prompt actions taken by the police and other authorities involved, including the Department of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Health.

READ MORE:  Shadows in the sanctuary: A nation reels as child protection failures come to light

The Malaysian Bar stands with the Children’s Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, in condemning the gross violations suffered by the children in these welfare homes.

These centres, intended to provide care and protection, have tragically become sites of horrific abuse. This cannot be tolerated in any society that values the safety and wellbeing of its children.

While we commend the authorities for their intervention, we must acknowledge that the reported cases could be just the tip of the iceberg. The fact that care homes have operated for years without proper oversight raises alarming questions about the existing regulatory framework governing these care homes.

The Malaysian Bar calls upon all regulatory bodies, not just the police and the Social Welfare Department, to enforce stricter compliance measures and ensure that all such centres are diligently monitored and regulated.

It is crucial that we adopt a holistic approach to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies. This includes not only taking immediate action against the perpetrators but also undertaking a long-term reform of the systems overseeing these centres.

We urge the government to consider the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry, as proposed by Dr Farah Nini in Suhakam’s press statement, to thoroughly investigate the shortcomings that have allowed such abuses to continue for years. The findings of the royal commission will hopefully lead to meaningful reforms in child protection policies and institutional oversight mechanisms.

The Malaysian Bar also stresses the importance of public awareness and participation. It is essential for the people to realise that unregulated care centres present significant risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children. We call on every member of society to cooperate with the authorities, report any suspicious activities, and actively participate in safeguarding the welfare of our children.

READ MORE:  Where is the oversight over welfare homes?

The Malaysian Bar wishes to record its appreciation to Azalina Othman Said, for her instruction to the Legal Aid Department to provide legal companion services to the children and their families.

In this regard, the Malaysian Bar voices its readiness to provide its unwavering support and assistance to the victims involved.

We cannot afford to allow such horrific abuses to go unnoticed again.

The Malaysian Bar will continue to advocate justice for the victims and ensure that proper measures are taken to eliminate these threats to our society.

Together, we must work towards creating a safer environment where the rights and dignity of every child are protected. – Malaysian Bar

Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab is president of the Malaysian Bar.

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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