The four lawyers made the call after Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali was convicted of neglecting and abusing a Down Syndrome girl, known as Bella, two years ago.

The lawyers said that the policy and action plan were needed to ensure that there would be no repeat of such cases in a “civilised nation like ours”.

“It needs to be implemented with strict adherence and it should not only be mentioned when a child abuse case comes up,” they said in a statement.

The four lawyers are Khairul Anwar Rahmat, Baljit Singh, Ikbal Salam and Radzi Yatiman.

They also called for the Child Act 2001 to be improved by making it more inclusive to protect children from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

They said the Act should include provisions to ensure that care centres were operated by trained professionals and not used as a means to solicit donations and funds.

“The abuse and neglect are a manifestation of hollow laws that need to be revamped.”

Siti Bainun was earlier today sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for child abuse. She will serve her sentence in the Kajang prison.