GEORGE TOWN: Authorities have found no element of abuse or neglect in the case where two twin boys were allegedly left to sleep on a sidewalk by their stepmother at a flat in the southwest district recently.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said investigations revealed no such elements were present.
“We have provided counselling sessions to the twin boys and their parents, and no abuse or neglect happened in the case.
“The boys are happy and had no issues with their father and stepmother,” she told the New Straits Times when met today.
Last Tuesday, it was reported that authorities were probing the case involving the eight-year-old twins, who were allegedly left to sleep outside the flat by their stepmother.
Investigations were being carried out by the police under their jurisdiction, while the Welfare Department also investigated the matter under the Child Act 2001 (Act 611).
When pressed further, Lim said the act of the twin boys sleeping outside was done for social media content.
“We were told (from our interviews) that it was for content, as the boys enjoy viewing content on social media.
“The mistake is that the content was posted online, which courted controversy,” she added.
The incident first came to light through posts on the Facebook page of a user known as ‘Wana Talia’.
The Facebook post showed the children in what appeared to be a neglected state at an apartment in Balik Pulau.
A woman has since come forward, seeking justice for her biological children, claiming they had been mistreated by their 39-year-old stepmother.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
