KUCHING, March 6 – The children of the Malaysian couple on trial in Sweden for allegedly child abuse are in good hands in the country, Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said today.

The women, family and community development minister said the four were slowly adjusting to their new environment in Kota Baru, Kelantan but so far had no problems adjusting and were in good care of their family members there.

“My officers from the Community Welfare Department are constantly monitoring their situation to produce reports to be submitted every week to the Swedish authorities. To date we have submitted four reports,” she told a press conference here today.

Rohani said her officers were also counselling the children and providing other forms of assistance to ensure that they adapt comfortably.

On another issue, Rohani urged Sarawak residents to fully utilise the Talian Nur by calling 15999 if they face or know of any domestic violence or child abuse cases.

Saying that few calls were made from Sarawak, she said this appeared to indicate that there were “no issues” in the state. She said the reason could possibly be that many Sarawak residents were not aware of the services provided by Talian Nur.

“Many Sarawakians might think that Talian Nur services are only for the Peninsula. In fact it is for Sarawak too,” said Rohani.

Apart from reporting domestic violence cases, members of the public can also call the line to enquire on services provided as well as other enquiries.

Malaysian teacher Shalwati Norshal and her husband Azizul Raheem Awaluddin, a Tourism Malaysia official based in Stockholm, were charged with committing gross violation of integrity against their four children — aged between seven and 14 years — and with assault.

The couple was detained on December 18 last year after being accused of beating their children for not praying.

Sweden outlawed corporal punishment in 1979, the first country in the world to do so.