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January 24, 2005
Public urged to report child abuse
Be the eyes and ears of the Government, and report child abuse.
January 25 2005 [News Straits Times] Malysia By June Ramli
This is the plea from Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, in view of the rising incidence of child abuse and incest.
"Please report if you suspect there are child abuse or incest cases," she told reporters after attending a dengue prevention and control campaign at the Tengku Budriah Children's Home in Cheras today.
"We are doing our best, by having awareness programmes, changing the laws and bringing the perpetrators to court.
"But most times, the horrible incidents have already taken place and an innocent victim is scarred for life."
Shahrizat was commenting on news reports of 290 cases of child rape in the first three months of last year in which the perpetrators were relatives.
In the whole of 2003 there were 768 such cases.
She said in 2003, the ministry had received 430 reports of sexual abuse of those under 18 years of age involved in incest and sodomy.
"It should be a personal crusade of every Malaysian to report such cases as we need the help of everyone. It has to be a concerted effort, not just one done by the ministry," she added.
She said the young victims were under the close watch of the ministry.
"Most times they are placed in homes because they are not safe living with their families anymore. We can only do so much. What we want to do now is to prevent such cases from happening. But we need the public's help. We cannot do it alone."
Earlier, Shahrizat launched a campaign against Aedes mosquitoes and directed that all 123 old folk's homes and orphanages under her ministry be fogged and cleared of stagnant water through regular gotong-royong activities.
"This will be a continuous effort, at least once a week."
Posted by Nancy at January 24, 2005 06:17 PM