Temporary court order to decide placement of eight children linked to viral TB case in Kuching
by Jude Toyat · Borneo Post OnlineKUCHING (April 9): A temporary court order will be sought to determine the most suitable placement for eight children linked to a viral tuberculosis (TB) case, who were reportedly living in poor conditions in Mile 13 here.
Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri said the order will be issued after the children complete medical examinations at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
“The temporary order will be issued after all the children are allowed to be discharged from Sarawak General Hospital, which is expected by the end of April 2026,” she told reporters after officiating the ‘Program Sinergi Kasih Wanita: Memperkasa Akar Umbi (Sektor Ketiga)’ at Raia Hotel & Convention Centre here on Thursday.
Nancy said the court order is necessary to determine the most appropriate placement for the children.
“Usually we apply to the court. There may be someone suitable and qualified to take care of them. If not, then we will have to take responsibility,” she said.
Under the proposed arrangement, two boys aged 15 and 11 will be placed at Rumah Kanak-Kanak Datuk Ajibah Abol in Sri Aman, while five children aged below 10 and a three-month-old baby girl will be placed at Rumah Kanak-Kanak Toh Puan Hajah Norkiah in Kuching.
According to the latest update, all eight children are currently undergoing further tuberculosis screening at the SGH paediatric ward.
Medical officers said the screening process requires close monitoring and time to ensure the children are free from infection.
Nancy said the ministry only became aware of the case after it went viral on social media, prompting immediate action by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Health Ministry and police.
“We discovered this case through viral information. We immediately deployed officers from JKM together with the Health Ministry and police,” she said.
She added that the children were first sent to hospital for assessment to determine whether they had also contracted TB.
“We could not move them anywhere initially as they needed medical examination first,” she said.
The case has also exposed documentation issues, with two of the eight children lacking birth certificates due to financial and transport constraints faced by their mother. Authorities are now assisting in the registration process.
Six of the children already have birth certificates.
Meanwhile, six adults comprising the biological parents and other family members are also being treated and monitored for TB at SGH.
After discharge, they will be temporarily placed at Anjung Singgah in Kuching before being moved to affordable rental accommodation, with emergency assistance provided for rental deposits.
Nancy said the family will be placed under JKM assistance, noting that they appear to have no stable income.
She also stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation and public vigilance in handling such cases.
“All parties must work together, including the National Registration Department, police and Health Department. The community must also alert authorities quickly when issues like this arise,” she added.