Child in emotional farewell with foster parents later abused, drowned

 

A child who had an emotional farewell with his foster parents three months ago is now dead while under his biological mother and stepfather's care.

The seven-year-old boy was found drowned in a tub. He also had physical injuries.

In October last year, Zubaidi Amir Qusyairi Abd Malek was featured in a Harian Metro video exchanging hugs with his foster family.

His teary foster mother Norlida Hassan was also seen in the video bidding him farewell.

Zubaidi Amir Qusyairi was handed to the foster family while he was very young to be taken care of for 10 years.

However, his biological mother took the child back last year.

The 32-year-old mother and her 38-year-old husband were today remanded by police for seven days for suspected abuse of the child.

Zubaidi Amir Qusyairi died yesterday at Taman Krubong Jaya, Malacca. The boy had injuries and was found drowned at 4pm, according to Bernama.

The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.

Harian Metro, who spoke to the 48-year-old foster mother, reported that she cried on the phone and said her family was devastated by the death.

"I raised him since he was young. I did not see it as a burden but was thankful to have a foster son like him.

"He was talkative and smart. His death has a profound impact not only on me but also my husband and children," he said.

The Malay daily also quoted Norlida's 26-year-old daughter Tuhfah Nazihah Md Tarmidi as saying that Zubaidi Amir Qusyairi was a cheerful boy when he left the family.

However, she said they couldn't get in touch with him after he left as his biological mother had made "all kinds of excuses".

The foster family sought police permission to travel from their residence from Rawang to Malacca due to the movement control order (MCO).

They plan to bring the boy's body back to Rawang for burial. - Mkini