The first page on today’s copy of The Star highlights one of the most important issues that’s rampantly appearing on tabloids – child abuse.
The newspaper published two child abuse cases today – the murder of a 12-year-old in Johor, and of an 11-year-old in Kajang.
The Star reports that the 11-year-old was allegedly tied up to a chair by her stepmother, who had also rubbed pounded chilli on the girl’s mouth and genitals. The 36-year-old woman was also previously arrested for a series of abuse cases.
With the child’s grandmother and siblings as witnesses, the stepmother is also believed to have used a hot spoon repeatedly on the little girl, leaving burn marks on her body.
Meanwhile in Johor, a 44-year-old man was sentenced to hang for killing his 12-year-old adopted daughter, Nur Jalilah. Reports say that the father, Abdul Aziz Abdullah, kicked the child in the back and abdomen before throwing her onto the floor.
“It is heartbreaking what the accused had done to the victim, causing her to suffer so much pain and physical abuse”.
The deceased had been living with Abdul Aziz for a year. She and her three siblings were placed under the care of Abdul Aziz when their mother was sent to prison. The mother is still serving her sentence.
According to reports, the children were only given food once a day. This also contributed to Nur Jalilah’s fragile condition.
The Star also shared a chart that highlights some of the most recent high-profile child abuse cases in the past 2 years. These stories are a grim reminder of how children are not even safe in the hands of their own family members.
