KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON YOUR KIDS

Girl’s dad wants to see volunteer, suspected of grooming teens, languish in prison.

Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh discourages public from using Child Registry – there are shortcomings which could let child sex offenders slip through.

Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim may face jail term and lose MP seat – the former MB is charged with molesting a teenage girl.

New mum and stepdad detained over abuse and death of three-year-old. MP: Will action be taken against parents of dead 11-month-old baby?

KUALA LUMPUR: An Opposition lawmaker has raised the question on whether action should be taken against the parents of 11-month-old infant Nur Muazara Ulfa Mohammad Zainal who died from alleged physical and sexual abuse.

“As what was said, there were early symptoms of child abuse.

“I wish to know if the government will take action against the parents as this is considered a form of negligence towards the safety of their children,” Datuk Jalaluddin Alias (BN-Jelebu) said when raising a supplementary question during Question and Answer Time in Parliament yesterday.

Women, Family and Community Development Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh had earlier told lawmakers there were early signs that the child may have been abused.

“In Zara’s (Nur Muazara) case, the mother said that there were signs as her child would cry and get upset when she sees the babysitter’s husband.

“This are early symptoms or signs that parents can see or detect,” she said.

On Friday, Nur Muazara Ulfa died after spending two days at Serdang Hospital in critical condition, believed to be due to physical and sexual abuse by the babysitter’s husband.

Police have detained the babysitter and her husband for investigations.

Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof said the main suspect’s remand would be extended today and that the case would now be investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code, for murder.

Earlier, Yeoh said the ministry would not encourage the public to use the recently created Child Registry to screen for child offenders owing to shortcomings that could let offenders slip through.

“Promotion to encourage the use of the registry for screening purpose will not be expanded as there are worries that some individuals may slip through the screening due to incomplete information,” she said.

Since its creation last year, Yeoh said that 536 convicted child offenders were registered with the Child Registry.

However, she said only cases under the Child Act under the purview of the Welfare Department were registered with the registry.

“The registry does not include cases which fall under the Penal Code,” Yeoh clarified.

In its place, Yeoh said that a “Working With The Children Check” is being developed and will be implemented next year to screen those who handle children.

Meanwhile, a DAP lawmaker said that the death penalty should be allowed in murder cases which involve children.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said it is debatable if the death penalty should be completely abolished, but in cases of murder, especially of children, it should be retained.

“I have always been an advocate of the abolishment of the death penalty but cases like these, I think, justify retaining the death penalty in exceptional cases, especially gruesome murders, provided the evidence against such offenders are beyond any reasonable doubt,” he said on Sunday.

He noted the concerns of the families of murder victims that abolishing the death penalty may send the wrong signal that such crimes are not taken seriously enough.

“We cannot ignore such concerns. I am of the view that there ought to be a discretion given to the courts to impose the death penalty in the most heinous of cases,” he said.

He also noted that in such a scenario, the court would be able to consider each case based on its peculiar facts and circumstances.

“Such discretion will also allow the court to consider any mitigating factors which may favour an accused in sparing (the accused) from the death penalty.

“It is not an easy task, no doubt, but at the same time, such gruesome murders cannot, or be seen to escape the long arm of the law,” he said.