Bar backs RCI on 'house of horror', says may be tip of iceberg
Published: Sep 18, 2024 8:33 PM
The Malaysian Bar, which expressed horror over the revelations following the police raids on 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, has supported the call for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into the matter.
Its president, Mohamad Ezri Abdul Wahab, was responding to Suhakam’s Children’s Commissioner Dr Farah Nini Dusuki, who mooted the RCI, stating that the crime and exploitation against children committed under the guise of religion is grotesquely shocking.
“We urge the government to consider the establishment of an RCI… to thoroughly investigate the shortcomings that have allowed such abuses to continue for years. The findings of the RCI will hopefully lead to meaningful reforms in child protection policies and institutional oversight mechanisms,” he said in a statement this afternoon.
Ezri (above) said while it is tragic that centres intended to provide care and protection have become the sites of horrific abuse, the reported cases, however, could just be the tip of the iceberg.
Therefore, he said the Malaysian Bar called for stricter measures to be imposed.
“The fact that care homes have operated for years without proper oversight raises alarming questions about the existing regulatory framework governing these care homes.
“The Malaysian Bar calls upon all regulatory bodies, not just by the police and Welfare Department, to enforce stricter compliance measures and ensure that all such centres are diligently monitored and regulated,” he added.
Ezri also underscored the importance of adopting a holistic approach to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.
“This includes not only immediate action against the perpetrators but also undertaking a long-term reform of the systems overseeing these centres,” he added.
Cooperate with authorities
Apart from this, the Malaysian Bar president also stressed the importance of public awareness and participation.
“It is essential for the rakyat to realise that unregulated care centres present significant risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children.
“We call on every member of society to cooperate with the authorities, report any suspicious activities, and actively participate in safeguarding the welfare of our children.
“We cannot afford to allow such horrific abuses to go unnoticed again. The Malaysian Bar will continue to advocate justice for the victims and ensure that proper measures are taken to eliminate these threats to our society.
“Together, we must work towards creating a safer environment where the rights and dignity of every child are protected,” he added.
Last Wednesday, police raided the homes, which they said were under Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings.
According to the police, 402 children were rescued, and investigations showed that at least 13 of them were allegedly sodomised or taught to sexually assault others.
The authorities also arrested 171 people, including an ustaz and a hostel warden.
Report lodged over viral video
During a press conference at the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed that the father of a boy seen being caned in a classroom in a viral video had lodged a police report in Kluang, Johor on Monday, Sept 16.
He told the press conference that the father of the child lodged a report after the video, believed to be linked to the GISBH case, went viral.
IGP Razarudin Husain
“He has been separated from his child since 2021,” he said, adding that initial investigations found that only two of the 20 charity homes linked to GISBH raided during Ops Global on Sept 11 had operating licences from the Welfare Department.
“Our investigations also involve other offences," he added.
He said 149 of the rescued children, aged between one and 10, have been sent to four shelters under the Welfare Department, while another 243 are still being housed at Pulapol and will be sent to shelters in stages later.
Razarudin also said parents who wished to come forward to claim their children must submit to a verification process.
“He has been separated from his child since 2021,” he said, adding that initial investigations found that only two of the 20 charity homes linked to GISBH raided during Ops Global on Sept 11 had operating licences from the Welfare Department.
“Our investigations also involve other offences," he added.
He said 149 of the rescued children, aged between one and 10, have been sent to four shelters under the Welfare Department, while another 243 are still being housed at Pulapol and will be sent to shelters in stages later.
Razarudin also said parents who wished to come forward to claim their children must submit to a verification process.
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