Mothers top list of child abusers

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http://www.todayonline.com/World/EDC120611-0000046/Mothers-top-list-of-child-abusers-in-Msia

Malaysian statistics show that mothers constitute the highest proportion of child abusers, local media reported yesterday.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Heng Seai Kie said statistics for the past three years had revealed that most child abusers were parents themselves and, in particular, mothers, The Star newspaper reported.

"Mothers make up 25.4 per cent of perpetrators in child abuse cases while 18.9 per cent are fathers. Together, parents comprise 44.3 per cent of child abusers in incidents recorded nationwide last year," she said on Saturday.

Added to the worrying findings was an upsurge in child abuse cases, she said.

There were 2,789 cases in 2009, 3,257 in 2010 and 3,428 last year.

Ms Heng said mothers, especially those who had to work to support the family, were burdened with multiple tasks and chores.

Some mothers abuse their children because of the stress they feel, she said, urging husbands to share equally in household chores and other responsibilities to ease the burden on their wives.