KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 4,424 cases of child abuse had been reported as of August this year, with the majority of them involving perpetrators known to the victims, says Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad.
The Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister said three of these cases occurred at childcare centres.
She added that it was natural for Malaysians to feel angry over cases of neglect and abuse involving children, especially if it happens at childcare centres.
“As of August 2024, the majority of cases occurred at the hands of individuals known to the children,” she said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
Muhammad Bakthiar had asked the ministry whether it intended to amend the necessary laws related to childcare centres and make it compulsory for these centres to get a special card from the Welfare Department to operate.
According to Noraini, many abuse cases also occurred at unregistered childcare centres.
“If these centres were registered with the ministry or listed under the Welfare Department, we would have already issued warning notices to prevent them from operating until the registration process is complete.
“That is why we launched the Child Protection Advocacy Programme as an effort to raise awareness and educate the public, particularly children, about what they can do to reduce or prevent abuse against them.
“We also take note of and welcome the earlier suggestion from YB regarding ways to reduce child abuse, especially in childcare centres.”
According to reports, the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Education Ministry have held the programme in 327 schools this year.
