ALOR STAR: The Social Welfare Department will consider relocating the elderly man who suffered physical abuse at an unlicensed welfare home in Taman Desa Aman, Padang Serai, to another registered welfare facility.
State director Datuk Zulkhairi Zainol Abidin said that the department will make a decision after thoroughly assessing the situation at the welfare facility.
"We are moving towards that (relocation of the elderly). We need to assess whether it is necessary to take him to another safer welfare home," he said when contacted today.
He said the department will cease the operation of the unlicensed welfare home after the completion of police investigation.
"This is a criminal case and will be handled by the police. After investigations are concluded, we will take further action within the Care Centre Act 1993," he added.
Zulkhairi added that based on preliminary investigations, the department did not find any other cases of physical abuse involving other residents at the home.
However, he said the department will also look into relocating the other residents to another welfare facility once the unlicensed welfare home is ordered to shut down.
Earlier today, the manager of the welfare home L. Vignesvari, 36, was fined RM4,500 by the Kulim magistrate's court after she pleaded guilty to causing injuries to P. Tharmalingan, 69, with a stick at a house located in Taman Desa Aman, Sungai Karangan on Apr 22.
The physical abuse case was highlighted by the United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai) leader David Marshel who urged the police and Social Welfare Department to investigate the welfare home after videos of the accused abusing the victim went viral on social media.
In the video, a woman, believed to be an employee at the facility, was seen scolding, pushing, and then striking an elderly man with a stick.
Yesterday, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said checks showed that the home was not registered with the department
Nancy was reported as saying that once the investigation is completed, the ministry will order for the welfare home to be shut down.