Child abuse: Calls for mount for stiffer punishment

Cruel and inhuman! This is always the first reaction by society on child abuse cases in the country.

It becomes more heartbreaking when the punishment against the abuser is seen as not equitable, leaving children victimised from sexual, physical and emotional to be permanently tramautised.

A lawyer, Zulkifli Awang, said the current punishment under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years or RM20,000 fine or both, upon conviction, was insufficient.

"The time has come for the relevant parties to amend legislation to safeguard the rights and interests of minors," he told Bernama here today.

He was asked to comment on the case of a five-year-old girl who severely abused, believed to be her step mother and biological father.

The girl suffered fractured bones all over her body and will probably suffer permanent disability. Obviously new amendments must be made under the Child Act to allow for more deterrent punishment to punish offenders so as to prevent such cases from recurring.

Zulkifli said it is fair to give a long prison sentence to the child abuser especially if it is done by someone who is supposed to be responsible for providing care and protection to children.

"The imprisonment penalty may be increased to a maximum of 14 years and a maximum of five strokes of the rotan as the children who are being abused have no capabilities of countering back.

"And if the act of abuse results in the death of the children, the convict should be handed the death penalty," he said.

Zulkifli also suggested that offenders should be under police and the Welfare Department supervision after serving their jail sentences.