Most child abuse cases happen in urban centres

KUCHING: There were 139 child abuse cases and most happened in urban centres last year, according to statistics from the state Welfare Department.

Miri Division has the highest number at 56 cases followed by Kuching Division with 47 cases.

Bintulu and Sarikei Divisions had the third highest number of cases with eight each and Sibu Division, though a bigger town than Bintulu and Sarikei had seven cases.

It could be due to accessibility to report, meaning law enforcing agencies or other related agencies are easily accessible. Factors such as the short distance and convenience to report do count. Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister

Two divisions – Betong and Mukah – showed zero cases in 2016.

Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah said the trend of more cases in urban centres could be due to multiple factors.

“It could be due to accessibility to report, meaning law enforcing agencies or other related agencies are easily accessible. Factors such as the short distance and convenience to report do count,” she told The Borneo Post yesterday.

She said higher awareness and widespread education in urban centres might be contributing factors.

Apart from that, the Dalat assemblywoman named urban migration as one of the reasons leading to more cases in the town areas.

On why Miri topped the list, even though Kuching is an even bigger cosmopolitan, Fatimah said she was not sure of the reasons.

“Unless we do a research to find out why, I would not be able to answer the question,” said Fatimah.

She said against the will of the her ministry, there has been a general trend which showed the number of child abuse cases on the rise yearly instead of decreasing.

As of April this year, the Welfare Department has received 41 cases.

“But of course, there is a trend of child abuse cases on the rise as people are now more aware due to more widespread education. Because of higher degree of awareness, people are willing to come forward to report these cases.”

She said public confidence in the system is crucial in eradicating child abuse cases.

“If cases go reported but action is taken and the perpetrator brought to court and punished, then more will come forward. For the system to work, public prosecutors play a crucial part,” said Fatimah.