PETALING JAYA: The recent police raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan have revealed shocking levels of child abuse and highlight a lack of oversight and accountability within Malaysia's welfare home system, says Wanita MCA.
In a statement Thursday (Sept 12), Wanita MCA national chairman Datuk Wong You Fong said that immediate and concrete measures are urgently needed to prevent such tragedies from recurring.
"This distressing case highlights the lack of oversight and accountability within Malaysia's welfare home system," she said in the statement.
She added that Wanita MCA called for investigations by enforcement agencies to look into any loopholes in the law where private entities are misused as a front for so-called welfare homes, and where necessary, to enact legislation to regulate such links between private firms and charity centres.
"Wanita MCA also urges the authorities to investigate the parents and guardians of the 402 rescued children under the Child Act 2001 for child neglect and welfare," Wong said.
She also called for regular unannounced inspections of welfare homes by the Social Welfare and the police to monitor living conditions and ensure compliance with established care standards.
"All welfare homes, including those operating as religious facilities, should be mandated to register and adhere to national operational standards.
"Legal accountability must also be central to these reforms," Wong added.
Saying that it was not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern within the welfare home system, Wong urged Suhakam, in collaboration with NGOs and the government, to lead a thorough review of the system to introduce reforms aimed at preventing further abuse.
The full text of the statement can be read below:
Enhancing supervision to prevent further escalation of child abuse in welfare homes
The recent police raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan, allegedly associated with a conglomerate, have revealed shocking levels of child abuse.
The 402 children rescued, aged between one and 17, were reported to be subjected to sexual assault, forced sodomy, neglect, and physical punishment.
This distressing case highlights the lack of oversight and accountability within Malaysia's welfare home system. To prevent such tragedies from recurring, immediate and concrete measures are urgently needed.
While the reported company has stated that they would fully cooperate with the authorities as investigations take place, we must question the integrity and standards of welfare to ensure that Malaysia never allows vulnerable children to endure such severe abuse.
We must not be afraid to prompt child welfare investigations.
Simultaneously, Wanita MCA calls for investigations by enforcement agencies ie the police, Public Prosecutor and Social Welfare Department (JKM) to investigate any loopholes in law whereby private entities are misused as a front for so-called welfare homes, and where necessary, to enact legislation to regulate such links between private firms and charity centres.
In view of the information by the Inspector-General of Police that the rescued children are not orphans but were sent there by their parents, the women’s wing of MCA urges the authorities to investigate the parents and guardians under the Child Act 2001 for child neglect and welfare.
Meanwhile, periodic, unannounced inspections by JKM and the police should also be conducted regularly. These checks will monitor living conditions and ensure compliance with established care standards.
Unlicensed homes should be closed down, and legal action should be taken against operators who fail to meet basic care requirements.
All welfare homes, including those operating as religious facilities, should be mandated to register and adhere to national operational standards.
In addition to this, these homes must also be required to prove that the children in their care are receiving formal education, whether through public schooling or approved homeschooling programmes.
Regular dental and medical check-ups should be mandated as well to prevent any neglect in the children’s healthcare.
Legal accountability must also be central to these reforms. Those responsible for the abuse should be prosecuted under the Sexual Offences Against Children Act (SOAC), as well as for child abuse and neglect.
These laws are designed to protect vulnerable children, and their enforcement should be strict and immediate. By setting a legal precedent, Malaysia can send a strong message that child abuse in any form will not be tolerated.
This is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of neglect and abuse within Malaysia’s welfare home system.
Suhakam, in collaboration with NGOs and the government, should lead a thorough review of the welfare system to introduce reforms aimed at preventing further abuse. This review should include assessing JKM’s capacity and improving accountability measures for welfare institutions across the country.
A dedicated task force must be established to monitor compliance with welfare regulations, ensuring that welfare homes operate transparently and ethically.
DATUK WONG YOU FONG
National Chairman,
Wanita MCA
