BERNAMApic
MELAKA: The guardian for a seven-year-old boy allegedly abused by his mother and her friend in Pasir Gudang, Johor, last Friday (Aug 11) has yet to be determined, although the next of kin have already been identified.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic) said the Johor Social Welfare Department had been doing background work to decide which family member would take care of the child.
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"The final decision will be made once the child is discharged from the hospital. However, the preparatory work has already been done by the department,” she told reporters on Monday (Aug 14) after officiating the Kasih KPWKM@Anti-Sexual Harassment Advocacy Road Tour programme at the Melaka International Trade Centre, Ayer Keroh here.
Also present were her deputy Aiman Athirah Sabu, state women’s affairs, family development and welfare committee chairman Datuk Kalsom Nordin and Melaka State Secretary Datuk Zaidi Johari.
Nancy said the boy was currently being treated in the paediatric ward of Hospital Sultan Ismail and was in stable condition.
She said the victim was said to be traumatised as a result of the abuse but the department would provide him with counselling and rehabilitation.
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On Saturday (Aug 12), Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the victim’s 27-year-old mother and her 30-year-old woman friend were arrested on suspicion of abusing the victim at a house in Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang.
Comm Kamarul Zaman said the child’s mother was remanded for six days while her friend was remanded for seven days to assist investigation under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001.
Previously, several video recordings and photos went viral showing public members storming a house, believed to be rescuing a child suspected of being abused by the biological mother and a friend.
It was reported that the neighbours, concerned upon hearing the boy's wailing, went to the house and asked to see him.
When the mother and her friend allegedly gave excuses why they could not see him, they called the police. – Bernama
