Rohani can’t see the wood for the trees, says Seputeh MP

It is ironic that Malaysia is party to the Convention of Rights of Children, yet the minister endorsed the police’s quizzing of children without their parents or guardians, says Teresa Kok.

PETALING JAYA: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim failed to see the wood for the trees when she endorsed the police’s interrogation of SK Pristana students without the presence of their parents.

DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok criticised Rohani for defending the police despite Malaysia having adopted the Convention of Rights of Children and enacted the Child Act 2001.

“What is the purpose of being a state party to the Convention of Rights of Children ( CRC) if the government is not going to its utmost to respect the CRC’s core principles?

“I find it baffling when she said: ‘So far, we don’t have clear facts under what law the investigation was conducted but it was definitely not under the Child Act’.

“Rohani should have done right and stressed that irrespective of whether the child is investigated under the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) or Child Act, their interest should be safeguard.

“Unfortunately, she has failed to see the woods for the tree,” Kok said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Rohani defended the police’s interrogations of SK Pristana students without the presence or permission of their parents, saying that the police are empowered to do so under the CPC.

This came after the Bar Council’s Constitutional Law Committee chairman Edmund Bon accused the police of violating Section 113 of the Child Act.

The interrogation was done in relation to the non-Muslim students being asked to eat in the schools’ changing room during the fasting month of Ramadan in July.

Kok pointed out that even the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia has expressed its concern over the police’s action.

“Suhakam said the child, by reason of his physical, mental and emotional immaturity, is in need of special safeguards, care and assistance, as well as protection at all times,” she said.

Kok said given that the incident happened almost two months ago, it is baffling to heard Rohani saying that she is still in dark over which law was cited for the police’s investigations.

“Why did not she send her officials to meet the parents and children to hear them out and to provide the necessary counseling and support?’ she asked.

After non-Muslim parents brought up the issue to media, they complained that their children were harassed and bullied in school. Several have since transferred their children out of the school.