Yeoh: Govt seeking mandatory sex offender registry checks for childcare centres, schools

KUALA LUMPUR: The government wants to make it compulsory for childcare centres and schools to check the Child Sex Offenders Registry before hiring someone, says Hannah Yeoh.

The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said there are legal implications to be considered and this will take some time.

"For us to make things mandatory, we must have the legislation. If we want to wait for that, it will take some time.

"In the meantime, since we have this, we want to roll it out first because every child that we can prevent from being sexually violated, we need to do it," she said at the World Autism Awareness Day held in Sunway Putra Mall on Tuesday (April 2).

When asked which specific law could be amended, she said they will look into all possibilities and to discuss the idea with various partners, especially the police.

The registry was rolled out on April 1 and Yeoh said the response has been positive so far.

"The response on social media and feedback on the ground has been positive and they feel happy that now at least they have this facility that enables them to do a check," she said.

Members of the public can visit any state Welfare Department (JKM) office and check if a potential babysitter has a prior record for child sexual offences.

Up to Feb 28, more than 3,000 names are listed on the registry.