Let jail sentence be a lesson on protecting children, says minister

PETALING JAYA: The court’s decision to jail the Rumah Bonda founder for abuse and neglect of a teenager with Down Syndrome should serve as a lesson for those who take such acts against children lightly, says the Women, Family and Community Development Minister.

Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic) said the ministry was happy with the court’s decision and wished it would serve as a lesson to everyone to always protect children and stop neglect or abuse from happening regardless of the child’s background or ability.

“All children who are entrusted to an adult must always be fully protected and fully cared for. All children have the right to grow up in a safe environment,” she told The Star yesterday.

Nancy also affirmed the ministry’s commitment to further strengthening the protection of basic rights, safety and well-being of children in Malaysia through the setting up of a Children’s Department focused on child protection issues.

“We are in the process of finalising the requirements needed by the department together with the Public Service Department and the Finance Ministry,” she said.

Besides setting up the Children’s Department, the ministry has also been actively taking other measures to ensure children in the social welfare system were under the custody of qualified, law-abiding carers, said Nancy.

She added that her ministry launched the Child Placement Management Guideline for its welfare officers in March to ensure the requirements for qualified parties comply with the Child Act 2001.

The Social Welfare Department has tightened the requirements of qualified and suitable persons who are able to foster children, she said.

She also said the department, which falls under her ministry, has been doing regular spot checks at least twice a year on children’s welfare homes.

As of 2022, there are 381 children’s welfare homes registered under the Care Centres Act 1993.

Nancy added that most of the homes were run by non-profit organisations.