Elderly man abused at home, say concerned witnesses

Wednesday June 6, 2012

Elderly man abused at home, say concerned witnesses

By R.S.N. MURALI
murali@thestar.com.my

MALACCA: A disabled octogenarian is allegedly being mistreated by a female relative and concerned Malaysians want him to be rescued by the authorities.

The 89-year-old is said to be suffering physical abuse from a woman in her 20s, who is believed to be a close relative.

The man is living under a traditional wooden kampung house at Banda Kaaba here, where he is allegedly chained and locked in on several occasions.

Parents, teachers and pupils at a primary school near the house claim they have also seen the elderly man being abused.

Neglected: Mohamed left all alone at home below the kampung house in Banda Kaaba in Malacca.

 One parent, who only wanted to be identified as Din, 35, said he sees the man being beaten almost daily by the relative.

“Some of us attempted to confront the woman but she seems to be a tyrant. It is really sad to see him suffering in such a cruel manner,” Din said.

He said he had witnessed her slapping and hitting the man and splashing cold water on him.

Another parent, Asah, 44, alleged that her 10-year-old son often related the suffering of the old man.

“My son, whose classroom overlooks the house, witnesses the abuse daily and he often comes back feeling sad for him,” she said, adding that the authorities should place the man in an old folk's home.

When The Star went to investigate, the man was seen sitting on the veranda while the entrance to the house was locked.

There was a bed and a makeshift toilet under the house.

The man seemed unable to use his hands. When approached, he said he was 89 years old and a bachelor.

He also said that the house belonged to his parents.

“My grandchild is giving me food and she is away at work,” said the man, adding that his name was Mohamed Nordin.

He declined to say whether he had been abused, saying: “When you are old, only then you will realise how much others care for you.”

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/6/6/nation/11426186&sec=nation