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

The ongoing child sexual abuse scandal has shocked the nation. And, it has shaken many of us working in child protection under civil society organisations.

The duration and scale of the abuse by Global Ikhwan Services and Business (GISB) Holdings is horrendous. It will take many months to uncover the full scope of the abuse and the possibly thousands of children who have been severely traumatised over decades.

We hope attempts will also be made to identify children who have previously been in their facilities and offer them the support they need.

Of serious concern is the lack of oversight and action by the very agencies that we hoped would be child protectors – the Welfare Department and the police. We now hear that such a vast business infrastructure has not even paid taxes, raising concerns about the Inland Revenue Board’s abilities.

It is as though government agencies have had a decades-long blind spot when it came to GISB – a blind spot that placed thousands of children into a deep, dark hell. This may also be true for other organisations in the country.

This child sexual abuse scandal and other incidents before this highlight the large deficits in our child protection services. Although this scandal involves a religious body, the issue is primarily one of child protection.

As civil society organisations, we have often been expressing our concerns about our weak and inadequate child protection services. This scandal has shown that they cannot be allowed to continue as is and need a complete overhaul.

We support the call from Dr Farah Nini Duzuki, the children’s commissioner at Suhakam, for the establishment of a royal commission of inquiry.

Only a royal commission can restore confidence in our child protection services. Such a commission should look at not just the disaster involving our services in relation to GISB but all aspects of child protection.

Our child protection services require an independent audit, a transparent assessment of weaknesses and limitations, and suggestions for reform with a workable way forward.

The royal commission should involve civil society and be fully available to the public.

Upon completion of the inquiry, the findings must be tabled and debated in the next meeting of Parliament, because the care and protection of children must be depoliticised and requires an ‘all-of-society’ approach.

The GISB child sexual abuse scandal is a ‘line in the sand’. This is not a two-week media cycle issue. Our child protection services cannot continue as they are.

The fact that the Welfare Department and the Police have not yet taken any responsibility is disheartening. If there is no meaningful action and reform, then we will continue to fail our children – endlessly.

We appeal to our MPs to support the royal commission and be advocates for our children.

The government has overlooked the calls for establishing an independent children’s commission accountable to Parliament.

Creating a children’s department under the Welfare Department does not address any of the existing challenges or concerns. Essentially, this is merely a rebranding of an inadequate and inefficient service, while children continue to endure hardship.

We also ask that the government urgently relook at the Child Commission Bill. Any and every space that a child is in must be a safe space.

We must restore public confidence in our child protection agencies.

Only an independent royal commission of inquiry with comprehensive reform will do this.

Signatories

1. Dato’ Dr Amar-Singh HSS, consultant paediatrician, child-disability activist
2. Sharmila Sekaran, Voice of the Children
3. Crib Foundation (Child Rights Innovation & Betterment)
4. The Talisman Project
5. Yayasan Chow Kit
6. Malaysian Association of Social Workers
7. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
8. Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC)
9. Anisa Ahmad, child activist
10. Pusat Jagaan Kanak Kanak Vivekananda Rembau NS
11. Johor Women’s League (JEWEL)
12. Voice of the Children (VoC)
13. ⁠End CSEC Network
14. Protect and Save the Children
15. Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia
16. Childline Foundation
17. Toy Libraries Malaysia
18. Persatuan Untuk Anak Kita (PuakPayong)
19. ⁠Pertubuhan Amal Rumah Melor (Meru, Klang)
20. Purple Lily Social Association Kuching
21. World Vision Malaysia
22. Montessori Association Malaysia
23. Play Unlimited.
24. Malaysian Hindu Dharma Association
25. Kasthuri Krishnan, lawyer
26. ⁠Women’s Aid Org (WAO)
27. Vanguards4Change
28. ReHAK (Reproductive Health Association of Kelantan)
29. Sarawak Women for Women Society
30. Lawyer Kamek
31. The OKU Rights Matter Project
32. Wong Hui Min, president, National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC)
33. San Yuenwah, The OKU Rights Matter Project
34. Azira Aziz, lawyer
35. ⁠Wilhelmina Mowe, individual
36. Dr Wong Woan Yiing, consultant paediatrician
37. Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo)
38. Kong Lan Lee, director, Persuatuan Kanak-Kanak Istimewa Kajang Selangor
39. Host International Foundation, Malaysia
40. NGOhub
41. Asia Community Service
42. Kuching Association of Talent Development and Welfare of Special Needs
43. Associate Prof Wan Puspa Melati Wan Halim, clinical sociologist
44. Malaysian Collaborative Practice Group (MCPG)
45. Michelle Lai, chairperson, New Horizons Society Ipoh
46. HumanKind
47. Murugeswaran Veerasamy, Damai Disabled Person Association Malaysia
48. Malaysian Rare Disorders Society (MRDS)
49. Persatuan WeCareJourney
50. Association for Children with Special Needs Sibu
51. Prof Toh Teck Hock, consultant paediatrician
52. Maizan Mohd Salleh, founder, president, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Albinism Association
53. Ng Lai-Thin, project lead, National Early Childhood Intervention Council (NECIC)
54. Sisters in Islam
55. Deaf Advocacy and Wellbeing National Organisation Malaysia
56. Dr Anthony Chong, deaf individual and advocate
57. Cassandra Sii, director, Spices Early Intervention Centre
58. Family Frontiers

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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