When caretakers become abusers – Consumers Association Penang

CAP is disturbed to note the abuse of individuals at the Taman Sinar Harapan home – a government-run shelter – in Kuala Kubu Baru. Just as appalling to learn is that children at the home are apparently fed cough mixture, which causes drowsiness, to keep them in a docile state.

It is shocking that abuse of such magnitude can take place in a government centre, where care of the disadvantaged by trained staff should in fact serve as a good example to the private sector. What more horrors are going on in some other shelters is anyone’s guess.

Abuse thrives in an atmosphere of secrecy or when witnesses remain silent. We see this time and again in cases of abuse – be it child abuse, domestic violence, abuse of domestic workers and so on.

A number of people were witness to this latest highlighted case of abuse. This case should have been brought out into the open much, much earlier. People cannot remain silent out of fear, indifference or feeling that it is none of their business.

Speaking out immediately is an important step in bringing repeated abuse to an end. This will let the perpetrators know that they cannot continue with the abuse – in the false security that nobody is aware or cares about what is happening.

CAP calls on the Minister of the Women, Family & Community Development Ministry to initiate an urgent nationwide check and investigation on all homes and shelters, including the other Taman Sinar Harapan homes. The full brunt of the law should be brought to bear on those found flouting basic rules of healthcare and human welfare. The Ministry of Health should also be involved.

CAP also calls on the Ministry of Health to investigate and comment publicly on the apparent practice of using cough mixtures with sedative effects on children in homes, including the Taman Sinar Harapan home in Kuala Kubu Baru.

Overall, the public should be enlightened on the action that will be taken – ideally an immediate major revamp nationwide and deterrent action to ensure that such abuses cannot happen again.