KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye yesterday called on the family of 51-year-old mentally-disabled Abdul Rahman to seek the help of a medical expert who he believes would be able to provide a solution for his condition.

Lee told The Malay Mail the most important thing to do now would be to get Abdul Rahman out of the cage and get him medical help.

“Treatment from medical experts may improve his condition and help him to get used to being around people and he may not need to stay in the cage anymore,” he said.

“From what I have read, it is clear Abdul Rahman had never got proper treatment. He needs to be referred to a psychiatrist who may be able to advise on what would be the best for him.”

Lee, a member of the advisory council promoting mental health under the Health Ministry, said The Malay Mail’s probe into Abdul Rahman’s plight could just be tip of the iceberg.

“There could be many similar cases in the rural areas and they need proper consultation from medical experts,” he said.

“Locking someone up in such an environment is not right. Sometimes, family members do not know how to handle a mentally-disabled person, and there are cases where they are ashamed of having such relatives.”

In the case of Abdul Rahman, Lee said, his guardians may not know the best thing to do.

“Although they are feeding and caring for him, they have failed get him the right treatment. Now it is not the question of taking action against the guardians, as they have done what they can. The authorities must step in and get Abdul Rahman proper medical help,” he said.

Lee said he disagreed with the Senaling Social and Welfare Department which had said that locking up Abdul Rahman in a cage was all right.

“The Welfare Department should step in and find a solution instead of saying it’s okay to be caged, as this involves human rights issues as well,” he said.

“Confining a person in a cage is surely not a solution.”

The Malay Mail probe team visited Abdul Rahman over the weekend and found that he had been confined in a shelter in his family’s backyard. He was thrust into the cage when they grew frightened that he could hurt someone, become abnormal in front of others or run away.

His family members placed him in the bare shed after attempts to take him into their home proved futile. The shed can only be unlocked from the outside.