Docs all out to save boy’s arm

11-year-old risks losing his hand days after his legs were amputated

JOHOR BARU: Doctors are working round the clock to save a suspected abuse victim’s right arm after the boy’s legs were amputated due to nerve damage caused by a bacterial infection.

The assistant warden (pic) of a privately-run religious school where the abuse allegedly took place last month, meanwhile, has been remanded until Wednesday. He was also found to be a convicted criminal.

The boy’s mother said her son was still in a coma after undergoing surgery to remove his legs on Friday.

She added that her son, 11, was reacting well to the treatment, especially on his right arm, at Hospital Sultan Ismail.

“He underwent dialysis as his kidneys were also damaged and during the operation on Saturday night, doctors took some samples and saw that the arm had started to change colour from black to reddish.

“Doctors told us that it was a positive sign as it showed that his nerves were responding to the treatment.

“Hopefully, his right arm will be spared amputation,” she said.

Their family, she added, was relieved by the good news and praying that he would come out of his coma soon.

The child, third among five siblings, had fever as well as bruises and swelling on his legs following the alleged abuse.

The school’s principal Mohammad Afdhaluddin Ismail said the school, which has been in operation for the past seven years in Kampung Lukut in Kota Tinggi, is against corporal punishment.

“We will cooperate with the authorities in their investigation and allow them to check all 24 closed-circuit TV cameras within the school,” he said.

Mohammad Afdhaluddin said the 29-year-old suspect has been working at the school since last year, and was suspended after the alleged abuse came to light.

The school has 15 staff members, including six teachers, and 110 students aged between 11 and 17 years.

Kota Tinggi OCPD Supt Rahmat Othman said the suspect, who was arrested on Saturday, is being remanded for four days to facili- tate investigations.

The man, he added, had served 30 months in jail for theft before he was hired by the school.

“We have recorded statements from the school’s principal, victim’s school friends, teachers, the parents and others,” Supt Rahmat said, adding that the case is being investigated under Section 31(1) of the Child Protection Act 2001.

In Shah Alam, Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the Government is drafting a policy to compel all sekolah tahfiz (religious boarding schools) to register with the ministry.

“Currently, most of these schools are only registered with their respective state governments,” he told reporters after attending a golf event organised by Umno Youth and Yayasan Al Hussin in aid of the urban poor.