Robert Gass, the Unicef representative in Malaysia, said children will continue to be at risk of violence and abuse as long as they reside in unregulated institutional care.

“These children have experienced unimaginable horrors and will need long-term professional medical and psychosocial support. The damage caused is serious and often results in lifelong consequences.

“Children in institutional care need the support of qualified social workers who can monitor welfare homes effectively. Unicef stands ready to support the government in protecting children deprived of parental care and preventing unnecessary family-child separation,” he said in a statement.

Gass added that it was time Malaysia takes a zero-tolerance stand against all forms of discrimination against children, who deserve to develop in a supportive family environment.

Police arrested 171 people yesterday following the raids on the welfare homes in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan, which were said to be linked to Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB).

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain was reported to have said that some of the rescued children were allegedly sodomised and also taught to sexually assault others.

He said some of the children were forced to sodomise the other residents of the home, while others from as young as five years old allegedly endured physical abuse.

Police are currently investigating the case under the Child Act 2001, Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007, and the Penal Code.