KUALA LUMPUR: Three sisters are feeling “helpless and terrified” even as their “Datuk Seri” father is to be charged soon with sexually abusing one of them since she was 10 years old.
The older sister, aged 23, said they were hoping for swift justice and awaiting a Protection Order (PO) from the police to safeguard them from harassment by their father after he is charged on March 22.
She said her sibling, now a 20-year-old university student, was mentally affected, having had her vulnerability preyed upon by their father over the past 10 years.
“My sister attempted suicide by slitting her wrists several times over the past two years, the last one being in July last year.
“She fears men, feels intimidated by them and suffers flashbacks of her traumatic experience,” said the customer service executive.
She claimed her father, who is the owner of a chain of convenience stores in the Klang Valley, left them penniless after a police report of sexual abuse was made against him in January.
The man, in his 50s, is said to have sexually abused his daughter about 230 times from 2010 until early this year.
According to her, after the report was made, the sisters, including a 16-year-old, left their family home to live with an aunt in Kajang for fear of reprisal. Their mother died three years ago.
The sisters recently went public on the YouTube channel, “Reality Check with Puspavathy Ramaloo” – a platform for the voiceless – to highlight their case, claiming investigators were dragging their feet.
On Wednesday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Saiful Azly Kamaruddin, refuting allegations of a slow probe, said the father will be charged under Sections 354 and 509 of the Penal Code that involves using criminal force and intent to outrage one’s modesty.
He said the three sisters would be covered by a PO and that the victim had earlier rejected an interim order that was limited to her but did not protect her siblings.
While the police and legal work are under way to bring their father to trial, the sisters feel their lives have been ripped apart.
“We are completely helpless, powerless and terrified,” said the eldest sister, adding they were struggling to make ends meet.
She said she had to pawn her gold chain to pay part of the university fees for her sister who is taking a course in culinary arts, and is figuring out how to pay a balance of RM9,000 that is due soon.
“Although we were the beneficiaries of our mum’s EPF totalling RM80,000 and life insurance money of RM230,000, my father claimed it and we didn’t get a cent,” she said.
She has a message for those sexually abused as a child: “Telling the story about sexual abuse is not easy, but when others see a victim breaking the silence, they might feel empowered to share their stories.”
She said she sought the help of Puspavathy, who is her aunt’s friend, to go public with the sexual abuse to prod the authorities to expedite the matter.
“I also did not want my sister to grow up hating herself and thinking she caused it and deserved it.
“I am thankful to her for bringing the case to public attention and wish to express my gratitude to the police for bringing some relief to us,” she said.
Puspavathy, a multiple award-winning ex-TV3 senior broadcast journalist, said: “When victims see other survivors who have the courage to share their stories, they are often inspired to do the same.
“When survivors feel safe to come forward, we are better able to help victims,” she said, adding she wants victims to know that help is out there.-FMT