Selangor DAP's Wanita wing today called for concrete action against the sexual abuse of children in Malaysia, and said it would hold a watching brief for victims of one such case reported recently.

Its chairperson Hannah Yeoh cited the alleged multiple rapes involving underprivileged and orphan girls by a caretaker of a welfare home in Ampang Jaya.

"DAP Wanita Selangor wants to ensure that the best interests of these girls are given priority and the due process of law must be applied to bring the perpetrator to justice.

"As part of our commitment to ensuring the victims receive a fair and speedy trial, Selangor DAP Wanita, will through its deputy chairperson, Sangeet Kaur Deo (photo), hold a watching brief for the affected girls," she said in a statement.

The Subang Jaya state assemblypersonadded that it was distressing that the suspect in the recent case was a person responsible for the welfare of the children.

On the number of cases involving sexual abuse of children, Yeoh cited a statistic provided by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rohani Abdul Karim, that of 22,134 children sexually abused from 2010 until May 2017, 59.7 percent, or 13,272 cases, involved rape.

As such, she called on the ministry to be more proactive in conducting regular spot checks on welfare homes, instead of waiting for cases of abuse to come to light.

"We urge the government to put in place stringent vetting procedures for such homes and other institutions providing care for children.

"We also urge all sectors of the society, including parents and guardians, to confront sexual abuses in any form to protect the lives and future of our girls," she said.

According to a Star Online report earlier today, the remand for the 55-year-old suspect who allegedly raped and molested children at the shelter home in Ampang Jaya, had been extended until Jan 29.

The suspect’s wife, meanwhile, who was aware of the assaults but kept silent, was remanded until Jan 28.

The man co-founded the home and served as a caretaker, and was arrested on Jan 4 after reports of him raping and molesting a 12-year-old girl at the shelter.

The victim had confided in her mother about the attacks, after which the woman filed a police report.

Not only that, the suspect is also accused of taking nude photos of girls under his care, aged between 10 and 12, while they were showering or changing clothes.