'Adik's mother, stepfather not hot tempered' - Adoptive mum of abused boy

AYER KEROH: "I truly regret not defending him. If I knew it would end up like this, I would not leave him with his birth mother," said the 'adoptive mother' to a seven-year-old boy who died due to alleged abuse.

Norlida Abu Hassan from Rawang, Selangor she had raised the boy, who she refers to as 'Adik' for six years since he was a baby, to help his biological mother who was pursuing her higher education and facing financial difficulties.

The 50-year-old woman said she returned the boy back to his mother three months ago, adding that she was only informed about the incident by a neighbour of the biological mother yesterday.

"After his biological mother took back 'Adik' last October, I was really sad as I cared for him since he was about two months old.

The child allegedly drowned in a water tub in his house at Taman Krubong Jaya, Melaka yesterday. Preliminary investigations revealed injuries on the victim's body.

"It is painful for me to accept this as I am only the adoptive mother. His biological mother still has the absolute right to get custody.

"But I regret that for almost three months, I have been trying to overcome this longing (to see the boy) and now I receive this unbearable news. Moreover, his biological mother and stepfather did not show any hot temper," she told Astro AWANI.

Norlida said she lat met the boy with his stepfather, as a lorry driver, at a restaurant in Rawang.

"He was a smart, understanding child and never asks for anything. In fact, even at an early age, he had managed to memorise surah Al-Mulk, taught by his sister, during his stay with me," she added while wiping away tears.

Yesterday, Astro AWANI reported that the police received a call from the child's stepfather who informed that his son had drowned in a 60.9 centimeter high water tank in the house.

However, further investigations revealed bruises and injuries on the child. The body was taken to the Melaka Hospital for an autopsy.

A video of Norlida sobbing and hugging the boy as he was being handed back to his birth mother went viral on social media in October after the video was shared on Facebook.