531 child abuse cases reported in first 8 months, mostly by parents
Abd Jalil Hassan
Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said 302 boys and 229 girls were reported to be abused.
Based on statistics, he added 201 were between two to six years old.
"Children under the age of one year are the second highest with 145 victims, followed by seven to 12 years (119 people), 13 to 15 years (49 people), and 16 to 18 years (17 people)," he told Sinar Harian.
Jalil said 361 perpetrators, consisting of 158 men and 203 women were arrested which includes family members, nannies, nannies' husbands, a mother's boyfriend or a father's girlfriend, teachers and guardians.
Out of that 227 were family members with 85 of the prepetrators were fathers and 68 mothers.
Jalil said 77 were of the perpetrators were nannies, mother's boyfriend and father's girlfriend (11), teachers (12 people), and others (34 people).
Among the causes of abuse was due to uncontrotable temper of the perpetrator, hyperactive or non-compliant children, the influence of drugs, drunkenness and stress.
He added victims exhibit psychological impact and physical impact.
"This impact will affect brain development, imbalances between social, emotional, and cognitive skills, lack of confidence, anxiety, self-injury, and suicide attempts," he said.
Meanwhile, Jalil reminded people to be gentle in educating children.
"Begin with advice and reprimand just enough to teach a lesson so that the children do not repeat the mistake, rather than arbitrarily punishing and hitting blindly.
"Get counseling, medical experts, and religious experts if there are any seeds that could lead to abuse," he said.
On Nov 24, last year, the founder of Rumah Bonda, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, cried after the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court ordered her to defend herself on two charges of neglecting and abusing a 13-year-old Down syndrome girl known as Bella.
The court then fixed the trial of the self-defense case for Dec 5–9.
On Aug 20, 2021, Siti Bainun was charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court as the person responsible for taking care of a 13-year-old Down syndrome girl by neglecting and causing the child to suffer physical and emotional injury.
