ALOR STAR: The rescued 5-year-old Myanmar boy who is the son of the foreigner suspected of murdering his wife and two other children will be placed under the temporary care of the Welfare Department.
State Welfare, Women and Community Development and Unity Committee chairman Datuk Halimaton Shaadiah Saad said the child was sent to Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital yesterday for examination and observation.
She said the boy is still traumatised following the tragedy involving his family, but he is able to communicate with Welfare Department officers.
"When we offered him some toys, he showed interest in playing and responded to our questions.
"He shared that his father (the suspect) loved him very much, which might explain why he wasn't harmed on the day of the incident," she told reporters.
Halimaton said there were old scars beneath the boy's cheek, which may be due to typical childhood accidents.
"He seems to be in his own world, unlike other children who would typically be depressed under such circumstances. However, the Welfare Department is ready to offer counseling services to help him recover from this ordeal," she added.
Halimaton said the department also welcomes members of the Myanmar community who wish to take the child in, as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) cardholders cannot be adopted since they are not citizens.
She said the protection of non-citizen children aligns with Section 17(1)(i) of the Child Act 2001 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1995.
"This child was rescued according to Article 19, which covers protection from abuse and neglect, and Article 20, which protects children without families.
"The department also urges the community to stay vigilant in safeguarding children and to report any cases of abuse," she added.
Yesterday, the 43-year-old suspect was remanded until Aug 26 under Section 302 of the Penal Code for the murder of his wife and daughter.
Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad had said the foreigner was detained at a mosque in Bukit Pinang at 9pm yesterday.
This came after the discovery of the bodies of his 34-year-old wife and 10-year-old daughter lying face-up and face-down in a drain, with slash wounds on their throats behind an abandoned building near Sultan Abdul Halim Highway on Monday.
The body of a 2-year-old boy, believed to also be the suspect's child, was found in Pantai Leman, Kuala Kedah, at noon yesterday.