2007 07: Victimising Kids: It’s time to deal with this seriously

NST Online. Letters. 16/7/07

By : DR TAN ENG BEE, Kajang


IN recent months, we have had quite a few reports of crimes committed against children, a situation which prompted Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to state that the police and her ministry would study cases of these terrible crimes to determine why mothers resorted to such action.

Shahrizat is not alone. I believe the entire nation is puzzled as to why children have to bear the brunt of adult fury. Cases of child abuse, rape and beatings are surfacing as never before. Almost every day we read of all sorts of crimes committed against innocent children.

What has gone wrong and what steps can we take to address the problem?

Such crimes against children were little heard of in the past.

The question which many would want to ask is what is happening in our society nowadays as far as crime and treatment of children are concerned? Where have we gone wrong? Why do parents or adults resort to treating children so mercilessly? Has our society lost the human touch and look upon children as mere punching bags?

The best way of seeking answers is to set up a high-powered investigative committee where such a study could be conducted, apart from what Shahrizat is planning to do.

I suggest the committee should consist of the relevant ministries, non-governmental organisations, religious bodies, and knowledgeable and experienced figures who have worked with children or who are well-versed in child affairs.

The high-powered committee would then convene a national meeting to address the problem and to recommend to the authorities as to what should be done to arrest or deter crimes against children.