Welfare dept assessing suitable guardian for Zayn Rayyan’s younger brother

Women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri said eligible names will be submitted to the court when the temporary placement with the welfare department ends on Aug 9. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The social welfare department (JKM) is currently evaluating several family members of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin to find a suitable guardian for his younger brother, says women, family and community development minister Nancy Shukri.

Nancy said eligible names would be submitted to the court when the temporary placement with the department ends on Aug 9, Harian Metro reported.

“In the meantime, the child is placed under the close supervision of Selangor JKM,” she was quoted as saying.

“We leave it to the court to decide the next step, be it to hand over the child to a suitable guardian or to let him continue being cared for by JKM institutions.”

Yesterday, it was reported that JKM Selangor obtained a temporary custody order for the child under Section 25(2) of the Child Act 2001 from the Shah Alam magistrates’ court.

Its director Azmir Kassim was quoted as saying that the child would stay in a welfare institution for two months while a complete investigation report is prepared to determine an eligible and suitable caregiver.

Nancy also said JKM will monitor the compatibility between the child and the potential guardian even after custody is granted.

“This is because it is understood that Zayn’s brother has speech issues that require close care,” she said.

On Thursday, Zayn’s parents, Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, were charged in the sessions court here with child neglect, over the events that led to his death.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charge framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, and read with Section 34 of the Penal Code.

Zayn was reported missing in Damansara Damai on Dec 5 last year. He was found dead the next day.

The post-mortem revealed multiple injuries, including defensive wounds, while the cause of death was believed to be strangulation.