NCJ Number
186928
Date Published
2001
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This chapter provides an overview of the nature and prevalence of child abuse in Malaysia, along with the response to it.
Abstract
A demographic profile of Malaysia, including the infant mortality rate, is followed by a brief case study of child abuse and abandonment by a dysfunctional family unit. A section on the history of the prevalence and response to child abuse and neglect in Malaysia is followed by a discussion of the current prevalence of child abuse in that country. Other sections of the chapter review the legal definitions of child abuse in Malaysia, the investigation of allegations of child abuse, intervention strategies of the protective services, and relevant legal innovations. The latter pertain to child witnesses, penalties imposed on those convicted of child abuse and neglect, and public awareness of child abuse. Overall, child abuse and neglect constitute a serious social problem in Malaysia. Data collected by the Department of Social Welfare Services show that it occurs throughout the country, although the problem is more acute in the major urban centers. All forms of child abuse have been documented, with the pattern being similar to that of Western countries. The Department of Social Welfare Services, the agency responsible for designing an effective abuse prevention program, has been allotted too few resources, and this has affected the deployment and training of staff. Most cases of child abuse have not been properly investigated and documented, and this has made prosecution difficult. In addition, court proceedings tend not to be child friendly. 2 figures and 30 references