GEORGE TOWN: For over half a year, a group of children is believed to have endured deplorable living conditions inside a warehouse in Bukit Mertajam before authorities intervened and rescued them.
Penang social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the children’s situation first came to light last year when their alleged caretaker approached the Social Welfare Department to request assistance in securing legal documentation for many of the children, most of whom lacked proper identification.
“The Social Welfare Department was made aware of the centre last year, when the caretaker sought help in obtaining legal documents for the children.
“To proceed with procedures, Social Welfare Department officers visited the location provided multiple times but found no sign of children or any childcare facility operating there.
“It was only after receiving a public tip-off about children seen entering and exiting a nearby warehouse that the officers took immediate action,” she told reporters in Komtar on Thursday (July 31).
When asked how far the warehouse was from the original address given, Lim said it was “not far away”.
She added that red flags were raised not only because the supposed childcare centre could not be located, but also due to the unusually large number of undocumented children the caretaker was claiming to care for.
During the raid codenamed Ops Abai on July 21, a total of 20 children were rescued from two premises, a warehouse in an industrial area and a house used as an unregistered learning centre.
Among them was a baby just 15 days old, found with her biological mother.
The group consisted of 10 boys and 10 girls, aged between four and 16, in addition to the newborn.
Upon inspection, 12 of the children including the infant were found without birth certificates.
Lim said some of the children are believed to be Malaysian, while others are thought to be foreigners.
“They were found without adequate food, proper clothing or safe shelter.
“The warehouse where they were kept was filthy, poorly maintained and clearly unfit for children to live in,” she said.
Medical checks conducted so far have found no signs of physical injury or abuse and two of the children have since been returned to their legal guardians, added Lim.
Children’s Protection Society (CPS) Penang founder and president Datuk Seri Nazir Ariff who raised concern over similar cases being reported of recently have called for schools to place stronger emphasis on teaching children how to protect themselves from abuse.
“We need to reintroduce lessons that empower children to understand and defend their personal boundaries, whether against physical or sexual abuse.
“For those living in hostels, parents must remain vigilant about their children’s safety and well-being.
“Often, the abuser turns out to be someone close to the child.
“Victims should never stay silent out of fear or shame,” he said.
