KUCHING: A woman was arrested in connection with an alleged child abuse case in Saratok, as investigations continue and the victim remains under protection.
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri urged the public not to speculate or make assumptions about the case, stressing that the matter is now under police investigation and that the child’s welfare is the top priority.
She said child protection officers and counsellors are currently with the victim at Hospital Saratok, where access has been restricted as part of ongoing protection measures.
“We ask that people do not easily accuse or speculate. Put yourself in the victim’s position and imagine how it would feel if something like this happened to you,” she told reporters after attending a programme here today.
Nancy said continuous education and advocacy programmes remain an important approach in raising awareness on child protection among both children and adults.
She noted that increased awareness efforts have led to more children understanding how to seek help, including through the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline.
“I do not like to see children being abused, but I am encouraged that children now know how to act and call 15999 to protect themselves. This shows that they understand the process and the support available,” she said.
According to her, advocacy initiatives have been expanded beyond schools to include community-based programmes and children’s activity centres to ensure wider outreach and awareness among caregivers and communities.
Nancy added that the ministry plans to introduce additional educational components this year, including awareness on artificial intelligence (AI), to help students better understand digital influences and online risks.
She said the initiative aims to ensure children are better equipped to navigate emerging technologies responsibly while maintaining their safety and well-being.
Separately, she said operations involving child maintenance and welfare services under the ministry continue to function while legal and structural adjustments involving related legislation are being reviewed to avoid overlaps in jurisdiction.
She added that additional staffing positions have been approved to strengthen service delivery, assuring that current services remain operational and unaffected.
