Child neglect is a deeply troubling issue that continues to plague communities worldwide. The emotional and physical well-being of children should be a top priority, yet instances of neglect often go unnoticed until it is too late.
One such case that has recently come to light in Pasir Gudang, Johor, has sparked outrage and brought renewed attention to the urgent need for vigilance and intervention.
‘He even had to defecate on the stairs because he couldn’t get into the house‘
The images, widely circulated on social media, depict the young boy sleeping in a corridor, highlighting his plight.
It has come to light that he had been denied access to his home for several days, forcing him to bathe in public restrooms and even defecate in the stairwell of the flat.
Neighbours quickly rallied around the boy, revealing that despite his hardships, he remained committed to his education, attending school every day. One concerned neighbour, speaking in the FB group Komuniti Taman Air Biru, shared,
“This kid has been locked out of his house for 3 to 4 days. This isn’t the first time it’s happened. He even had to defecate on the stairs because he couldn’t get into the house.”
Out of compassion, neighbours have been providing food for the boy, while his parents remained indifferent.
“Neighbours have been feeding him out of pity. But his parents just ignore him,” the neighbour added.
Parents have been detained
The dire situation caught the attention of local authorities. According to a Harian Metro report, Seri Alam District Police Chief Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi Ishak confirmed that the boy’s parents were detained at 10:30 PM after it was revealed they had been neglecting him since July 7th.
“The police, investigating the incident, acted to rescue the teenager yesterday after detecting the viral video about the matter.
Checks revealed that the male suspect had two prior criminal records, but initial urine tests on both parents were negative for drugs,” stated Superintendent Mohd Sohaimi.
The case is now under thorough investigation, with potential charges under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. The parents, both locals, have been remanded for five days starting today.
