M'sian cancer patient, 10, suffers brain trauma after alleged bullying

A 10-year-old boy recovering from nose cancer in Malaysia is now suffering from brain trauma after allegedly being bullied.

According to his mother Siti Suhana Misdi, 39, the boy was first attacked by a 12-year-old schoolmate on Feb. 21 at a religious school in Skudai, Malaysia, Harian Metro and New Straits Times reported.

The boy was allegedly punched, kicked, had his head slammed, and was forced to strip naked.

The assault was believed to have stemmed from the bully's dissatisfaction after the victim's older sister rejected his advances.

Suhana said the incident caused the boy, the fourth of six siblings, to suffer from severe headaches and weakness.

The 10-year-old was later treated at a private hospital, where it was confirmed he suffered from a concussion.

No action taken

According to the NST, the boy has been fighting adenoid cystic carcinoma— a rare form of cancer that develops in glandular tissues— for the past two years.

The mother only found out about the bullying in late March after her daughter confided about it, as she was worried about her younger brother's condition.

Suhana filed a police report on the same day, but was informed that the case did not warrant a full investigation, according to Harian Metro.

A meeting between the parties involved was instead arranged.

Suhana said that no action was taken because the bully was considered underage, as reported by NST.

According to Suhana, the injury has left him unable to concentrate on his studies or participate in sports.

"Doctors said the recovery period could take up to three years, and he would have to rely on medication, and there is a risk of seizures if he fell or fainted."

Assaulted again

However, the boy was allegedly assaulted again on Aug. 7, this time by a different perpetrator at a public school in Skudai.

NST reported that the boy was struck on the head and had to be hospitalised again.

"I don't know why he is targeted. Perhaps it is because he looks weak from illness," Suhana said, as quoted by NST.

"He's 80 per cent recovered from [nose] cancer, but now he is fighting against bullying."

The incident has made the 10-year-old boy forgetful and lose focus easily.

Suhana said that the boy often forgets instructions within seconds, NST reported.

"If I ask him to fetch a cloth from the kitchen, he'll walk there but then forget why he went. This happens repeatedly. We are worried it could lead to permanent memory loss," she said, as quoted by NST.

Finalising follow-up actions

The family has filed a second police report and has a lawyer to seek compensation and justice for the victim.

The Johor Bahru police have confirmed that a police report has been lodged, and investigations are ongoing.

The State Education Department assured that it would work to resolve the case, as reported by NST.

The department is currently in the process of finalising follow-up actions, and several actions will be taken against the perpetrators.

Top image via Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Johor/Facebook