The children’s commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, has expressed her deep sadness over the news pertaining to the special operation carried out in care homes associated with “Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings” (GISB).
The investigation by the police revealed that the child victims in the homes were not only groomed to sodomise but also were sexually assaulted by the wardens and forced to assault other children.
The children recorded by the police numbered 402 from 20 care homes around Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
Therefore, the children’s commissioner is gravely appalled by the under-reported cases of children being assaulted in actuality, owing to the rampancy of GISB operating nationwide in Malaysia and globally.
The children’s commissioner expressed her gratitude to the police and partners – namely, the Social Welfare Department, the Ministry of Health and the Malaysian Chemistry Department – for their swift action to save the child victims in this case.
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However, based on the media conference notes (Ops Global) by the police recently, it is understood that the total number of police reports against GISB stood at 41 cases, made between 2011 until 7 September 2024.
Therefore, the children’s commissioner is heedful of the outcome of the investigation and the subsequent actions that have been taken by the police against GISB since 2011.
However, the children’s commissioner’s immediate concern in this case is for acting in the best interests of all child victims and insisting that all victim-handling processes, including investigations into the acquisition of criminal evidence against perpetrators, should be child friendly.
In addition, counselling and psychological treatment services for child victims must be provided, ensuring a smooth recovery from their trauma and channelling them to a new chapter in life.
The children’s commissioner believes that a family-based care system should be prioritised for the care of all child victims, rather than placing them in overcrowded children’s homes, which could further exacerbate their trauma.
Additionally, the children’s commissioner stresses the importance of providing continual counselling to all child victims to accurately assess the impact of the abuse and offer an appropriate rehabilitation plan tailored to their needs.
The crime against and exploitation of children committed behind the facade of religion is grotesquely shocking, to say the least.
The children’s commissioner is further aggrieved by the fact that the care homes have been running for years undetected.
The children’s commissioner calls on the Welfare Department to ensure that all childcare centres must not only be registered but also diligently and responsibly monitored.
Tragedies akin to this, including the recent death of eight-month-old Muhamad Al Fateh Amri in a nursery, could have been avoided if monitoring was conducted closely by the authorities.
Taking into account the capacity and resource constraints of the Welfare Department, the responsibility to conduct monitoring should also be extended to the local councils, as part of their municipal role in their respective localities.
To that end, the children’s commissioner urges the establishment of a special committee by the National Security Council to study and formulate an integrated strategy to deal with the recurrence of such crimes in all institutions involving children, especially daycare centres.
Additionally, the children’s commissioner calls for the formation of a royal commission of inquiry to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. The inquiry’s findings would guide meaningful reforms to any failing institutions or systems, ultimately laying the groundwork for a comprehensive child protection framework.
From now, raids should be conducted at all children’s shelter homes and daycare centres to ensure strict compliance to all childcare institutions with the standards prescribed by the Social Welfare Department.
Dr Farah Nini Dusuki is the children’s commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Child abuse may be an international culture regardless of race/religions. Abuse may have and may continue as long as there is blind faith in those suspected. Even if suspects found guilty including religious/political/other leaders and wealthy [reported to be using wealth for their pediophile cravings] and if high status/connections/relationships and connections in corridors of power including enforcement/investigative/judiciary etc where some of the brightest legal minds may be able to get acquittals/minimize penalties and prove the suspects as victims.
Bless all