The children rescued from homes operated by Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH) must be the priority of the authorities, with proper mechanisms in place to ensure the victims can speak up and receive the help they need to heal.
Federation of Reproductive Health Associations Malaysia chairman, Associate Professor Dr Kamal Kenny Saravanan, said the recent rescue and investigations involving children in homes allegedly linked to GISBH was only “the tip of the iceberg”, as there have been similar cases in the past.
“When it comes to these children, we cannot say that a particular framework or programme ought to be adopted, and that these kids will be rehabilitated after a certain period.
“What is important is to ensure that mechanisms are in place to allow the victims of abuse to speak up and receive the help they need.”
Kamal said young victims of abuse will develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition caused by an extremely stressful or terrifying event.
“Those who suffer from PTSD will face symptoms including hot flashes, and experience changes in personality such as becoming edgy and aggressive.
“These children will go through lifelong trauma. Some of them may end up being perpetrators themselves later, as a result of the underlying conditioning they experienced when they were young. They find it very hard to break free from what has been ingrained in their memory,” he said.
On Sept 11, police raided 20 homes believed to be linked to GISBH and rescued 402 children, including teenagers, suspected of being victims of abuse and sexual exploitation, including sodomy. Over the following days, more children were rescued nationwide, bringing the total to 572.
Police have said the children who were rescued were told they were orphans, when in fact many of them were the children of GISBH members. In one case, a GISBH member was said to have sent 32 of his 34 children to welfare homes linked to the company, where they were raised, believing they were orphans.
The rescued children have been placed in 11 safehouses by the Social Welfare Department.
Kamal said that while there have been calls for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the case, it was important for the authorities to ensure thorough follow-up actions to prevent similar episodes from happening.
“There is no point in having committees if the findings are not implemented and closely monitored.
“I say this because, over the years, we have pushed for the need for sex education among the young. However, we often find ourselves unable to push discussions on this because it is culturally sensitive.
“This is especially so on the topic of sodomy. People do not feel it is appropriate to open Pandora’s box and talk about it openly, despite it happening in homes for children, including religious homes,” he said.
Meanwhile, CSO Platform for Reform, a coalition of more than 60 members focusing on institutional reforms for a better Malaysia for all, said that at the heart of the issue involving GISBH is the gross violation of children’s rights.
“CSO Platform for Reform firmly stands by the principle that the best interests of the children must be paramount. Under the Child Act 2001 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Malaysia is obliged to ensure the protection, care, and respect of children’s rights, free from violence, exploitation, or harm,” it said in a statement.
“The survivors of these alleged abuses must be given comprehensive care, including access to medical, psychological, and social support services to aid in their recovery. Efforts must be made to ensure that no child under institutional care is subjected to such harmful conditions again,” the statement added.
The group also called for a thorough investigation into the case, and for this to serve as an impetus for broader reforms to protect vulnerable individuals, especially children, in institutional settings.
“We believe the case should serve as a wake-up call for enforcement agencies to increase the monitoring and investigation of institutions tasked with caring for children, especially when police reports have been made since 2011 against GISBH,” the group said.
“There is a need for greater oversight on such schools and boarding houses run by private actors or religious groups, to ensure that they comply with the country’s laws. We call for the strict monitoring of such institutions, to ensure that they provide a safe and nurturing environment for children.”
