JOHOR Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim have proposed three important steps to prevent abuse cases such as the one involving Down Syndrome teenager Bella from happening again.
Tunku Ismail who had an audience with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun yesterday at the Royal Johor Polo Club in Johor Bahru said that he planned to propose to the Government an enhancement on the current laws such as the Child Act 2001.
“This should include aspects of child centre registration, accreditation, assessment, funding and monitoring to ensure that all operators are operating legally with a sense of public service,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday (April 19).
Tunku Ismail also said that the Social Welfare Department needs to audit all existing approved childcare centres and quickly close any childhood centres that are not registered with the department or operating illegally.
Suggesting for the audit to start with Johor, Tunku Ismail also said that legal action should also be taken against the operators or owners of any illegally-run organisation.
“An immediate study also needs to be done on the condition of childcare centres starting in Johor commissioned together with guidelines from UNICEF and other independent institutions,” he suggested.
According to Tunku Ismail the findings of this study should be made public and he will ensure that the suggested improvements be taken seriously and carried out immediately.
“I would like to stress that the welfare of children – especially those in shelter homes – should always be protected and well taken care of,” he added.
The meeting yesterday was also attended by Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, Unicef representative to Malaysia Amanda Bissex and state Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairperson Khairin Nisa Ismail.
Bella’s case went viral on social media last year when a woman alleged that she was instructed by Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to tie the 13-year-old Bella and pour hot water on her while the teenager was under the care of the welfare home.
The woman also claimed that Siti Bainun had abused Bella on a daily basis for almost four months between March 2021 and June 24 last year.
The Rumah Bonda founder is charged with two counts of neglecting and abusing the teenager to the point that the victim suffered injuries physically and emotionally. She pleaded not guilty. – April 20, 2022
