Poor family support 'contributing factor' to four year-old's death, say experts
NUR IFTITAH ROZLAN , MUHAMMAD AMNAN HIBRAHIM , NOR AZURA MD AMIN29 Dec 2022 09:46am
Mariani (left), Khairiah (right).
SEGi University Child Psychologist Professor Dr Mariani Md Nor said children require care, monitoring, love and proper recognition from parents.
"The parents in this case were in prison and left their child with his 19-year-old sister, a teenager at an age where an individual is impatient and may not be able to tolerate much.
"This is paired with the child's antics which may have caused the child to be abused," she told Sinar.
On Tuesday, a four-year-old child was believed to have died after he was abused by five of his sister's friends at a home in Senggarang, Batu Pahat, Johor on Friday.
Johor Police Chief Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the victim was under the care of his sister after their parents were imprisoned over drug charges. He said police had arrested two men and three women, including the 19-year-old sister and her husband. They have been remanded for seven days until Dec 31.
Kamarul Zaman was reported saying that the boy was found to have suffered injuries from a hot iron rod and had marks of being beaten, including on his genitals.
Police also seized several items, including a metal rod, a clothes hanger, a fan cover and a motorcycle stand, suspected of being used to abuse the boy.
The case was initially investigated under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, but was later reclassified for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, Kamarul said.
Lack of proper care may lead to children suffering mental health issues and stunted.
"Irresponsible parents tend to let their child live by themselves without caring for their diet and health.
Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) Clinical Psychologist Khairiah Abdul Razak said to overcome the issue, the public should be aware and be sensitive over their surroundings.
"If the child is in such an environment, they are trapped and don't have a way out especially for a four to five-year-old boy, how will he know where to run to?," she said.
For instance, she said in other countries the issue of violence towards children including speaking harshly were warning signs to abuse.
"We need to see how the parents communicate with their child. If they berate them or use harsh words.
"We could also see whether the children were close to their parents. If a child wanders away and their parents show no care, that is a sign.
"Sometimes we can see a child's expression whether they are truly happy or not when they are at home," she added.
Khairiah further said the legal system should be streamlined and improved and the government needed to increase public awareness in order to be more sensitive to efforts in combating child abuse.
