“Check the background of babysitters” – Grieving mother of 11-month-old baby girl who died due to abuse, advises parents

As Malaysia reels from shock over 9-month-old baby Zara who died on Friday, due to sexual and physical abuse, the grief-stricken mother, Noraihan Ab Aziz, has advised parents to check the background of babysitters before hiring them.

“Parents who intend to send their children to babysitters should check their family backgrounds first, including the background of the husband. Before sending your child to them, ask their neighbours to find out if the babysitter is trustworthy. I do not want what happend to my child to happen to other children. It is too painful to bear when someone commits such an inhumane act to a small child.”

Noraihan said she could not imagine the suffering that her daughter, Nur Muarzara Ulfa Muhammad Zainal endured as the infant was found with swelling behind her head and torn hymen.

She said parents should not be careless and place their child under the care of people who they barely know.

“Check the background of the babysitter because I do not want this heinous act to repeat with other children. I trusted the babysitter as she seemingly had a good character and she promised to care for my baby like her own.

“I did not expect it was an empty promise as the police informed me that my daughter had been cared by the woman’s husband,” said Nuraihan when contacted by the NSTP.

Nur Muarzara, or Zara as she had been fondly called was rushed to Serdang Hospital last Wednesday after she allegedly choked on a piece of apple. The infant died at the hospital on Friday.

A post-mortem revealed that Zara had been subjected to physical and sexual abuse. She had fractures on the skull and torn hymen.

The 28-year-old babysitter and her 36-year-old husband were arrested and remanded to assist the investigation.

Police had informed Noraihan that the man had been taking care of Zara since day one because he claimed that his wife was “slow”.