Its vice-president, Roshasni Marjumat, said the council would suggest the boy be enrolled in a special needs school once he had fully recovered and was discharged from the hospital.

He said such schools provided training for those with special needs to be independent and empowered them with skills for survival.

“In this case, the teenager never received any sort of formal training.”

He said the council would also offer counselling for the teenager’s mother if needed.

Roshasni expressed disappointment that there were still many parents of disabled children who refused to seek help.

“We have encountered so many cases where parents chose to lock them up in their house instead of seeking assistance and aid for them,” he said.

He added there were many associations and institutions under the council and the ministry also provided self-development programmes and lessons. 

“The main problem is parents who prefer to live in denial and neglect their children’s future,” he said.

Roshasni urged parents who needed help to come forward so that aid could be provided.

An activist of rights for the disabled, Datuk Mah Hassan Omar, said it was time the government took stern action against those who ill-treated or neglected disabled children.

He said the Persons with Disabilities Act 2008 showed the government’s commitment to protect these children.

“Under the Act, the authorities, non-governmental organisations and related associations share a legal responsibility to protect these children. If parents cannot protect the rights of their disabled children, the authorities must step in,” he said.

Malaysian Confederation of Disabled executive director Jerry Lew said the Welfare Department must place the boy in a shelter home to protect him.

“The department and other relevant authorities must take stern action on the culprit who kept the teenager in such a terrible manner,” he said.