KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Over 39 per cent or 192 from 685 child abuse cases reported in the country were perpetrated by biological mothers.
According to statistics released by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, this was followed by fathers at 158 cases (32 per cent), employees of childcare centres with 29 cases (six per cent) and stepmothers at 15 cases.
Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh said the cases were among the total 25,868 calls received by the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline last year.
“Talian Kasih recorded an increase of over 70 per cent compared with 15,046 calls in 2018 which demonstrated that the people are more aware of the services provided by the ministry.
“Child abuse and domestic violence made up the highest number of cases reported,” she told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony of the MoU for Chilhood Cancer Awareness between Ronald McDonalds House Charities (RMHC) and Lions Club International at Ronald McDonald House, Hospital Canselor Tunku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia here yesterday.
In the event which was also attended by Malaysian International Lions Club district governor Datuk Javern Lim and Malaysian RHMC president Azmir Jaafar, Yeoh also launched the Lions Wonderland, an outdoor playground for children at the hospital.
Meanwhile, Yeoh said four Anjung Kasih Centres were currently being built in Melaka (the Melaka Hospital), Johor Bharu (the Sultan Aminah Hospital), Sandakan (the Duchess of Kent Hospital) and Penang (the Seberang Perai Hospital).
Two other shelters would be built at the Putrajaya Hospital and another in Kota Kinabalu, by 2021, she added.
Currently, there are 12 Anjung Kasih centres all nationwide, which have benefited over 75,000 people.
— Bernama
