COMMENT | Give legal protection to children in conflict with the law

COMMENT | The Malaysian Bar is deeply concerned by the recent news of a 15-year-old girl in Terengganu being charged under section 302 of the Penal Code with the murder of her newly born baby. It is understood that the girl is a rape victim. In any event, given her age, she is obviously the victim of statutory rape.

Firstly, the Malaysian Bar respectfully recommends that the prosecution reassess the charge levelled against the girl, taking into consideration the age of the child, and the clearly distressing and harrowing circumstances of this case.

The girl is likely to have suffered from an appalling mental and emotional state as a result of her ordeal. She may not have fully recovered from the effect of giving birth. It is therefore of critical importance that the girl be given counselling and psychological...