A toll on young children

SOME 4,422 schoolchildren have lost at least one of their parents or a guardian due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says Datuk Seri Rina Harun.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister told Parliament that her ministry is concerned with their welfare and has come up with several initiatives to assist each of them accordingly.“Based on statistics from the Education Ministry, as at Sept 13, 2021, a total of 4,422 schoolchildren have either lost a parent or guardian or both (parents) to Covid-19, making them orphans, since the pandemic hit our country,” she told Hannah Yeoh (PH-Segambut) during Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.