KUALA LUMPUR: Over 39% or 192 from 685 child abuse cases reported in the country were perpetrated by biological mothers.

According to statistics released by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, this was followed by fathers at 158 cases (32%), employees of childcare centres with 29 cases (six per cent) and stepmothers at 15 cases.

Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh said the cases were among the total 25,868 calls received by the Talian Kasih 15999 hotline last year.