"Govt-run Shelter for Disabled becomes their Jail"

I was reading an article on The Straits Times (Singapore newspaper) entitled, "Home's residents caged and chained". It was taken from The Star, reporting on abuse of human rights in Malaysia, specifically in Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.

Government-run Taman Sinar Harapan home, tucked away in a secluded area, supposedly a home and hope for the mentally disabled showed scenes on abuse of human rights. One of its few stated objectives were to provide the disabled with self-management skills to be independent, to allow interaction with friends and public through social activities.

Instead, these were the conditions of the home.
When the Sunday Star team entered the home, it was filled with a stench of faeces and urine, a pool fresh blood at one corner of the room, naked men being chained and locked up in cages. Most of them no older than 50. There will normally only be 2 caretakers to 50 residents.

The two caretakers stationed at the block were seen watching TV and chatting. "The caretakers don't do much. If it’s time to feed them, they would just walk one round with a bowl and feed whoever wants to eat. Those who don’t are left alone". Food donated by organisations would be thrown away to reduce the faeces needed to be cleaned after eating.

Asean Federation for Psychiatry and Mental Health president Prof Dr Mohamad Hussain Habil recognized that, "It is an obvious case of sheer abuse and inhumanity." However he did not comment on future actions to be taken to solve the problem.

It was also commented that there were many other cases of improper treatment given to the disabled throughout Malaysia but NOTHING has been done.

Is the government ignorant of these? They are government-run! What about the law on human rights protection? This is one of the areas where light is needed to expose darkness.

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless,
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
They know nothing, they understand nothing.
They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken."
Psalm 82:3-5.

When such people are wardens of justice, the whole nation order crumbles. Take your positions, watchmen of Malaysia!

When our prayers lack the words, pray Psalm 83:1,

"O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still."

Wei