Hannah Yeoh: Use referrals, don't look for babysitters online

PUTRAJAYA: Hannah Yeoh (pic) has urged parents not to search for babysitters on the Internet but to rely on referrals instead.

The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said parents should be wary of leaving their children in the care of strangers.

"Please do not look for babysitters online. Please do not let strangers – people you don't know – look after your children.

"Go with personal recommendation from friends or relatives or you could also consult the ministry or agencies like the Association of Registered Childcare Providers (PPBM) and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

"The ministry's wish is to ensure that parents can go to work comfortably, knowing that their children are safe," said Yeoh at a press conference held in conjunction of the launch of the ministry's guidelines and checklist for choosing babysitters.

The guidelines, developed with PPBM and ECCE, was launched by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister.

Yeoh said the ministry is working hard to have a screening system in place for people working in the child care industry by next year.

"With the screening system, parents will be able to look up a person's record and see if they have any criminal history.

"It will be similar to immigration blacklist or bankruptcy checks.

"We are not trying to prevent people from working, but those with a history of crime are not suitable to be working with children," said Yeoh.