Home TA Online Silent screams: The shocking tale of 400 abused children

Silent screams: The shocking tale of 400 abused children

A scathing exposé of institutional failure and exploitation of children that demands justice for the voiceless victims

For illustration only - GERD ALTMANN/PIXABAY

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No need to be shell-shocked over the abused children’s case.

This fiasco was an inevitable tragedy waiting to happen. There’s damning indication of negligence and dereliction of duty across the board.

For a small nation like ours, it is extraordinary that 400-odd children were allegedly subjected to inhumane treatment in just two states. The audacity to state this has been happening since 2011, with 41 police reports made, is shocking. The entity or company responsible apparently had a free run for 13 years without investigation!

We should never be overwhelmed by what happened or underestimate its impact on the minors. Beyond the convenient, conventional thinking that the faith could be tainted, individuals must be convicted if found guilty, regardless of race or religion.

Each party involved must accept blame in this unfolding drama. Leave religion out of it. Religion is sometimes a vehicle weaponised by evil to commit abominable acts.

It is a shared disgrace for the entire nation, including our governing institutions. We cannot and should not absolve anyone in this unprecedented criminality, if it is proven to have taken place.

Now, introspection and conscience must be applied. The undeniable fact is that religious frauds of any faith often hide behind scriptures. The usual cover for criminal acts is that divine revelations cannot be contested. These criminals hide behind piety while abusing minors.

Consider:

  • The powerful will bow with the naive in oneness.
  • The politically astute will choose indifference and excuse injustices
  • Witnesses who remain silent do so out of faith alignment or the mistaken notion that it would be a betrayal that would sully the faith if they speak out
  • Some could not care less
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When religion has state support, it is prone to receive blanket protection. Many adherents who misrepresent their faith are never prosecuted. Non-action emboldens them! And they continue to persecute or oppress others.

The oversight mechanism for accountability, if it exists, has failed in this case of abused children.

Those who are spineless have allowed predators a fortress of immunity and impunity. It is sickening, to say the least.

There are cases of abuse in every faith community. That is no secret.

What’s disturbing is that when such abuses happen in other faiths, there is a frenzy of demonising. But in this case, we tread cautiously as if it is a minefield of sensitivity.

Take action against those responsible with every instrument of the law. Confiscate their funding sources.

Intuition suggests that this could be a deviant religious splinter group, financially well supported. They are likely to have solicited donations using the very children they abuse or exploit.

The perpetrators also allegedly performed unusual “treatments” while inappropriately touching victims.

Monitoring such groups is near impossible. How many young lives have been indoctrinated against society?

The consequences of such a mentality draw negative results. Laws protecting vulnerable minors seem ineffective in the face of such exploitation.

It is painful that the entity responsible apparently did not come under the radar of state institutions. It is inconceivable that so many police reports resulted in little or no obvious follow-up action – until now.

The religious shield was a destructive weapon that cruelly affected so many lives. When atrocities are enabled by the notion that religious institutions figures or institutions can do no wrong, the potential for abuse is always present.

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Evil will always be embedded within false spirituality. Trust faith, but do not trust a deviant individual.

Let’s not be divided by race or religious identities. We must grant each other moral protection. When we unable to do the basics for children, it is an unacceptable failure. It is our nation’s collective shame.

The innocent ultimately pay an unbearable price.

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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Dharmalingam Vinasithamby
Dharmalingam Vinasithamby
24 Sep 2024 7.50am

It is fortunate that GISB apparently did not have powerful enough politicians to shield it when its excesses became known to the public. But what about the hundreds of youths our nation has been churning out to support violent religion-based wars in the Middle East? … Where were they schooled? Why did our government not notice this in time? Or did its officials choose to turn a blind eye for their own reason? The growth of pedophilia and religion-based violence are enabled by the wilful or the benign neglect of the ruling elite.

Gursharan Singh
Gursharan Singh
21 Sep 2024 6.48pm

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 etc where some of the brightest legal minds may be able to get acquittals/minimize penalties and prove the suspects as victims.
Bless all

Dax xenon
Dax xenon
20 Sep 2024 9.14pm

Malaysia , a majority Muslim country with billions of dollars poured into Islamic institutions are corrupted with power , and abuse . They have enriched themselves, embraced radicalism and canonized religion to stay in power . Today the world is shocked to see the atrocities committed by an Islamic organization on children- rape, buggery , sodomy and total disregard to the lives of minors . The Malay Muslim identity is in tatters – it is Arabic, Pakistani and Bangladesh . Shame on the government and AI.

Amy
Amy
20 Sep 2024 7.20pm

It’s probably the tip of the iceberg. I don’t think we’ll see a deterrent like in the state of Florida – the death penalty for traffickers and pedophiles.

Dorothy Margaret Fernandez
Dorothy Margaret Fernandez
20 Sep 2024 6.02pm

Thank God this has been exposed. I would say people would hv wanted to report but were in fear of their safety. Where is the faith in their religion. It is an offence to form a cult for one’s benefit/liking. How evil it can be.

Gursharan Singh
Gursharan Singh
19 Sep 2024 8.31pm

Only problem is that there may not be any heavy deterrent penalties with little condensation from society and authorities even if and when proven. Further parents or guardians of the victims may also be responsible if they did not monitor or listen to victims even when some may have complained or shown signs of abuse due possibly to blind faith and trust in those suspected some of whom may be religious teachers or with connections to some leaders in power positions.
Sympathies for innocent helpless victims
Bless all

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