GEORGE TOWN - MALAYSIAN authorities are investigating a
vernacular newspaper report that a nine-year-old schoolgirl gave
birth to a baby boy after she allegedly had an affair with her
14-year-old neighbour.
State Health, Welfare and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee
Boon Poh said he was shocked to read the news in a Chinese daily on
Wednesday.
'I have since alerted all departments concerned under my
portfolio to investigate the matter. This is a very serious matter.
Having sexual intercourse with a minor is considered statutory
rape,' he said.
Phee added that they only had sketchy reports with not much
information, adding that his office had referred the matter to the
police. 'Any medical practitioner who delivered the baby boy must
alert the state Health Department as the mother is said to be a
nine-year-old. Those hiding information or abetting the crime will
be charged. I appeal to those with information to come forward,' he
said.
According to the Chinese daily, the girl, who comes from a
broken home, gave birth at a private hospital some time last month.
The girl, the paper claimed, seemed mature for her age as she was
big compared with other girls of her age.
The report claimed that the boy's affair with the girl started
when she was eight. The baby is said to be taken care of by the
girl's grandmother, who disclosed the case to a non-governmental
organisation that alerted the paper about it.
-- THE STAR
