GEORGE TOWN: When his daughter kicked up a fuss about going to the nursery, Remi (not his real name) thought it was normal for a child to get cranky when trying to get used to a new environment.
The girl, who was about eight months old, would start crying when they reached the nursery’s door in George Town every morning.
“She refused to get out of the car. We thought it was normal for a young child to behave this way at a new place or maybe she was not feeling well.
“We did not suspect anything amiss,” said the civil servant in his 30s.
Two weeks later, Remi received a video clip from an anonymous person via WhatsApp.
His daughter was apparently slapped by a member of the nursery staff.
“I was shocked and immediately lodged a police report,” he said, adding that the case is now under police investigation.
Remi said he and his wife were traumatised by the incident in June last year. His mother now helps to care for his daughter.
“I hope something can be done to alleviate things like this. The government should make it mandatory for all nurseries to install closed-circuit television cameras so that we working parents can have peace of mind,” he said.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, when asked to comment, said existing laws were adequate to protect children in the country.
She said these laws include the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), which can be used to protect, rehabilitate and care for children.
She also cited other laws like the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 (Act 792) and the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007 (Act 676) that were related to the protection of children.
“There are also laws that can be used against negligent parents or caretakers such as Section 31 of the Child Act 2001.
“Health personnel, family members, caretakers, guardians and anyone within the community can inform the authorities if they come across abuse victims,” she said during a visit to the Pokok Machang Children’s Activity Centre (PAKK) in Tasek Gelugor on the Penang mainland yesterday.They could also call Talian Kasih 15999, WhatsApp 019-261 5999 or inform the nearest Welfare Department, police station or hospital, she added.
During the visit, Nancy presented a mock cheque for RM117,000 to all five PAKK and five Children’s Protection Teams (PPKK) in Penang.
There are currently 142 PAKK and 140 PPKK in the country.
Also present were the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr Maziah Che Yusoff and Welfare Department director-general Norazman Othman.
