Police urged to investigate welfare home abuse case

IPOH: The state government hopes police will investigate the report of alleged abuse at the Caring Hands (Kakum Karangal) welfare home in Taman Lim, here.

State Women’s Development, Social Welfare, Housing and Local Government Committee chairman, Datuk Rusnah Kassim said the Ipoh Caring Hands Association which managed the welfare home had lodged two separate police reports on the alleged abuse on June 11 and Aug 12.

“Two police reports had been made and we are leaving it to the police to further investigate the case,” she told Bernama when contacted yesterday.

She was commenting on a report in an English daily newspaper yesterday that 12 girls who were living in the welfare home had been physically and emotionally abused for years, but no action had been taken by the authorities.

Among others, the report said the victims claimed they were beaten on the feet, hands and buttocks as well as kept in dog cages and not given food if they made a mistake.

The report also said checks by paediatric specialists from Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital, here, confirmed that the victims had suffered abuse for a long time.

According to Rusnah, the individual who allegedly committed the abuse had resigned several months ago and the children in the welfare home were now safe and well.

“The Social Welfare Department officers and Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun have visited the home and seen the condition of the residents,” she said.

Rusnah said the welfare home was operating legitimately and the department had given the assurance that it would not be closed but could continue operating as usual.

The home, opened in 2004, currently houses 12 female children and teenagers aged between nine and 18 years.

Meanwhile, a Bernama check in the area found that many people were not aware of the alleged abuse at the home.

A cleaner at a school located about 50 metres from the home, said for the 10 years she had been working there, she never heard the children crying, but there was only laughter.

“I do not know if they were abused at other times as alleged. During the whole time I was working, I never heard any of the occupants crying or screaming for help.

“Some of the occupants studied at the school where I work and they have never looked sad or complained of abuse,” the cleaner who wanted to be known as Mak Cik Mun said.

A security guard at the school who did not want to be named said he had never heard or seen any of the occupants of the home being abused during the times he worked there from 7am to 7pm each day.

“But I do not know what happens at the home outside of those hours,” he said.

Bernama tried to get feedback from the police but no statement has yet been made. — Bernama