Dear Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun,
I refer to news articles dated March 3 with regard to the application by a 15-year-old girl in Terengganu.
She was charged with killing her baby on Feb 8 according to Section 302 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty. The teenager had filed a review application against the decision of the Kemaman Magistrate’s Court on Feb 15, which did not allow her to be released on bail.
The decision hearing, on that appeal, will be on March 8.
You may not be aware that offenders under the age of 18 cannot be sentenced to death under Section 97 (2) of the Child Act 2001, and may be commuted to imprisonment for a period as determined by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, sultan or governor, depending on where the offence occurred.
This is a long time to put a child away - a child who is my daughter’s age when the crime happened. This is a child, who has been traumatised, sexually abused and punished with little or no counselling, during incarceration.
Have you been following this case, YB? I know there are many other more seemingly important issues that need your attention but this child needs your support now!
She had been seemingly tried and condemned by some, including your deputy minister (who has since deleted her Instagram post), charged with murder before a full and proper psychological evaluation was done, in a juvenile detention centre, held without regular access to her mother.
If she is found guilty, do you know there is no access to education for girls in prison? We can forget access to Sekolah Integreti. Even if she did have access, we know she has learning difficulties so studying and getting a degree like other children at the pleasure of the king, will be impossible.
I would know - I have worked, for years, supporting the young men who went in as children and who have come out as men- all children at the pleasure of the king. They’ve been in there for 17, 20 years - one has been in there even longer and is still there.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) in a statement said that it could still investigate and review the murder charge against the teenager who allegedly stabbed her baby to death, and replace it with another charge.
This was after taking into account additional developments, including the results of the investigation into the rape case involving the teenager.
This is great but right now, we have a bail hearing decision on Tuesday.
The physical, mental and emotional state of the teenager - who just gave birth - have undergone drastic changes, and require due attention in addition to her mother’s support and guidance.
She needs emotional and physical support now. There is little fear of a flight risk. So many of us can assist the mother and child in ensuring she complies with all the requirements the court decides.
We can help raise funds, take turns in accompanying the child for any sessions or interviews, help with schooling, extra classes and anything else we need to do to comply with court rulings.
Can you please do your part and have the ministry and the Social Welfare Department stand by the child, please? Please support the appeal for bail on March 8.
Thank you!
Sincerely,
Dr Hartini Zainudin
Yayasan Chow Kit
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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