Thursday May 28, 2009
Shahrizat: Other ways to solve problems than to hurt kids
Petaling Jaya: There is no excuse for abusing a child, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“No matter what problems you have, whether in a marriage, at work or anywhere else, it is not an excuse to do something criminal like this.
“There are other ways to solve your problems, be it through family, community or the Welfare Department,” she said yesterday at the Serdang Hospital after visiting a five-year-old boy suspected of being abused by his mother.
Can’t believe it: Shahrizat checking out the bruises and scars on the five-year-old boy during her visit to Serdang Hospital yesterday. The boy, who is an only child, had long cane-like scars on his back, a bruised lip, chipped or missing teeth, pinch marks and a bump on his head, among other injuries.
Shocked at seeing the scars and bruises all over the boy’s body, Shahrizat ordered a full investigation to be carried out and said she would personally look into the case.
“I am so... (paused to compose herself) ... I am speechless to see the scars on the back of the little boy.
“It is so awful and very sad. Obviously the abuse must have been going on for sometime,” she said.
“We have to find out why this has happened. There has to be a reason why a family member, especially if it is one of the parents, will do this to a child,” she added.
She said the child was rescued after a call was made to the ministry’s 24-hour Talian Nur helpline at 15999, asking the authorities to rescue the boy from home.
“From what I understand, the child’s parents are divorced and the mum has been going through all kinds of stress in her life,” Shahrizat said.
She said they would be heading to court to get a temporary custody order to place the child in a welfare home while investigations proceed.
The mother was not in custody yet and would be given counselling, she said.
Shahrizat warned would-be perpetrators of abuse that they would be hauled up to face the law.
“We have very strict rules on child abuse or any form of abuse, We take it very seriously and will not hesitate to take action,” she added.
Meanwhile, Serdang Hospital paediatric unit head Dr Norrashidah Abd. Wahab said some of the boy’s injuries were located in non-trauma prone areas, thus unlikely to have been sustained from a fall.
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