An Act of Irresponsibile Father - He Was Given a Warning Only

It was reported in Sin Chew Daily and reproduced by The Star online about how a 3 year old girl was left by his, what we would like to describe as, "irresponsible father" alone at home had sneaked out from her home in the wee hours and wandered around in a park in Puchong to look for her parent. Apparently her mother was overseas and the father had an appointment with a friend and thought that it was not convenient to bring his daughter along. So he left the daughter all by herself at home.

The rule is simple, when it comes to the safety of our kids, nothing else is more important than that. Appointment with friends could be a normal hang out with friends over a cup of drink. Hence, it was not important at all. Even if it was an appointment with clients, proper arrangement need to be made for someone else whom the father trust to look after the girl, or else, just cancel the appointment. As simple as that. Obviously the father was not able to think properly in this case. Leaving a 3 year old girl at home, all be herself, no matter what time it is, is obviously very dangerous.

So to cut the story short, the girl was reunited with her irresponsible father at the police station where he was let off with a warning by the police personnel at the police station.

This is where, we at MfMC do not get it. Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 clearly provides penalty of fine not exceeding RM5000 or imprisonment not exceeding 2 years or both where a parent leaves their child: -

(a) without making reasonable provision for the supervision and care of the child;
(b) for a period which is unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances; or
(c) under conditions which are unreasonable having regard to all the circumstances,

What is mind boggling here is how can the father in this case was let off with merely a warning? Don't we had past cases where we can learn from? Do we have to wait for something to happen to the girl before stern action can be taken against the father? Ooops, wait...if something bad happen to the girl, then the entire nation will be sympathy to the parent and again, no action will be taken against them.

We wonder if Section 33 will be used one day...

Read the news report here.