PETALING JAYA: The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) has come to the defence of its commissioner for child affairs, Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal after allegations against her surfaced involving the disabled teenager Bella's abuse case.

       Its Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) said that it was shocked by the allegations made in an April 15 Utusan Malaysia article and described it as defamatory.

       The OCC said that Noor Aziah had instructed the commission to take immediate action as soon as disabled teenager Bella’s case surfaced last year.

       “The OCC feels that the writer intended to defame the commissioner with regards to the Bella case,” it said in a Free Malaysia Today report.

       Suhakam said Noor Aziah performed her duties to the best of her abilities and advised the relevant government agencies like the police and the Welfare Department to carry out their duties and ensure the rights and welfare of children were safeguarded, pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of the Suhakam Act 1999 (Act 597).

       It added that according to Section 12 of the same act, once a charge was made, the commission could no longer interfere in the case.

       “As a human rights institution in Malaysia, we respect the law and its legal institutions.

       “The OCC believes the judge will listen to the arguments presented by both sides and justice will be served,” it said.

       The OCC also noted that it took Bella’s case seriously and was doing its best under the circumstances.

       “As for the allegations made by the writer, the OCC hopes that the writer does not make false claims but rather educates the public to respect the court process,” it said.

       Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali, 30, has pleaded not guilty to two charges of neglecting and abusing the teenager, who has Down syndrome, to the point of injury and emotional trauma.

       The offences were allegedly committed at a condominium in Wangsa Maju, here, between February and June 2021, under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001 which carries a jail sentence of up to 20 years or a fine of RM50,000 or both, upon conviction.

       The case has attracted a great deal of attention nationwide due to the severity of the alleged abuse.