Allegations of child abuse rock childcare center in Cheras, Malaysia

CHERAS, MALAYSIA: A distressing incident has recently come to light involving allegations of child abuse within a childcare center situated in the serene neighborhood of Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras.

This disconcerting narrative unfolded through a heartfelt Facebook post shared by Wanie Johari Sim (5 Sep), where the aggrieved mother meticulously detailed the sequence of events that transpired since the inception of this troubling case back in August.

On 3 August, the toddler exhibited a palpable fear, staunchly refusing to attend school. Fearing the worst, the mother urgently sought access to the daycare center’s CCTV footage, only to receive a cursory glance at haphazardly selected video clips.

Fast forward to Wednesday (30 Aug), a staff member by the name of Athirah informed the father, as he came to collect his daughter, of an accidental collision during the children’s playtime.

However, both parents couldn’t help but notice the unmistakable pinch marks etched onto their daughter’s delicate cheeks and arm. The child herself lamented the discomfort she felt when her mother tenderly washed her face.

Seeking clarity, the mother made a fervent request to review the CCTV footage from that fateful Wednesday, a plea that fell on deaf ears at the childcare center.

With mounting concern, on 1 September the mother taking a day off, determined to uncover the truth. Yet, the center remained unyielding, citing insufficient staffing as they denied her access and postponed her viewing until Monday morning (4 Sep).

When the long-awaited moment finally arrived on 4 September, the father ventured to the center’s office, only to be greeted by a shocking revelation.

The CCTV footage from the childcare in Cheras (Photo: Facebook/Screencapt/Wanie Johari Sim)

The footage laid bare the horrific sight of a staff member mercilessly pinching his daughter’s tender cheeks and cruelly slamming her fragile head against the floor.

Their disappointment deepened as they observed other staff members seemingly unfazed by this grotesque display, as though it were an ordinary occurrence.

On 4 September, law enforcement intervened, detaining a childcare worker on allegations of abusing a two-year-old at the Bandar Sri Permaisuri facility in Cheras.

The child’s father promptly filed a police report at 11.28 a.m. local time on that fateful Monday, asserting that the 28-year-old suspect had caused grievous harm to his daughter’s head and hands.

In a significant development, the accused woman voluntarily surrendered at the Kuala Lumpur Contingent Police Headquarters at 01.00 p.m. local time that very day.

Subsequently, she underwent a 24-hour detention before being released on police bail.

Presently, this deeply troubling case falls under the purview of Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, subject to thorough investigation.

Recalling a haunting parallel

Mere weeks prior, in August, an eerily similar case of child abuse, involving a childcare provider, cast a shadow over Kota Kinabalu.

A 27-year-old female suspect, captured by the unforgiving lens of CCTV, was seen subjecting a defenseless 4-year-old child to a relentless barrage of kicks, slaps, and repeated strikes while the young one innocently dined at a childcare center in Luyang, Sabah.

Local authorities received a trifecta of reports, one each from the distressed parents, the childcare center’s proprietor, and astonishingly, the suspect herself, each pointing fingers at the other, claiming child abuse.

The ensuing public outrage prompted the temporary suspension of the childcare center’s operations, culminating in a public apology, as reported by The Borneo Post.