PUTRAJAYA: Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh has encouraged more Malaysians to come forward and make reports on abuses.

"If you want to stop abuses especially of people who cannot speak for themselves, children, senior citizens, family members or colleagues, you must speak up and you must report," she said.

Speaking at the launch of the Empowering Women In Cyber Risk Management event here, she said she hoped people would pay more attention to the lights of those around them.

"We will be doing spot checks.

"Don't dismiss comments by children, persons with disabilities or senior citizens easily. You can't assume that they don't know better," she said.

Yeoh added that concerned citizens could call the Talian Kasih 15999 crisis hotline to make reports on abuse-related cases, as well as to seek counselling and protection.

Referring to allegations of abuses happening at a private old folk's home in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, she said the case was currently under investigation by the State Welfare Department.

"The Welfare Department will provide updates once the investigation is over," she added.

On Monday (June 17), a Facebook user claimed that residents at the old folk's home were being mistreated by a supervisor.

Pictures and videos were uploaded on the social media platform to back up the claims.

Following that, former employees of the home claimed residents were forced to drink their own urine and fed extra sleeping pills.

The owner of the old folk's home has denied the claims.