KUALA LUMPUR: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has called for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the recent raid on 20 charity homes, which led to the rescue of 402 children.
Suhakam's Children's Commissioner (CC) Dr Farah Nini Dusuki said the crime and exploitation against children committed under the guise of religion is grotesquely shocking.
She expressed further concern that these care homes had been operating unnoticed for years.
"Additionally, Dr. Farah calls for the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
"The inquiry's findings would guide meaningful reforms of any failing institutions or systems, ultimately laying the groundwork for a comprehensive child protection framework," she said in a statement today (Sept 13).
Dr Farah also urged the National Security Council (NSC) to form a special committee tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to prevent the recurrence of such crimes in all child-related institutions, including daycare centres.
She also urged the Welfare Department to ensure that all childcare centres diligently and responsibly monitored, apart from ensuring that they were properly registered.
"Taking into account the capacity and resource constraints of department, the responsibility to conduct monitoring should also be extended to the respective local councils.
"Hereafter, raids should be conducted at all children's shelter homes and daycare centres to ensure strict compliance of all childcare institutions with the standards prescribed by the department," she said.
Dr Farah also raised the urgency of addressing this case to protect the interests of all child victims.
She said counselling and psychological treatment services for child victims must be provided, ensuring a smooth recovery from their trauma and guiding them toward a new chapter in life.
"The commission believes that a family-based care system should be prioritised for the care of all child victims, rather than placing them in overcrowded children's homes, which could further exacerbate their trauma.
"Additionally, the commission stresses on the importance of providing continuous counselling to all child victims to accurately assess the impact of the abuse and offer an appropriate rehabilitation plan tailored to their needs," she said.
On Sept 11, police rescued 402 minors from alleged exploitation in a major operation across two states today, codenamed Op Global.
The victims, aged between one and 17, were allegedly exploited at 20 welfare homes in Selangor and Negri Sembilan.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said the victims, who were locals, had endured various forms of exploitation and abuse including being sodomised.