GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Social Welfare Department is working to trace the parents or guardians of 18 children who were rescued during operations dubbed ‘Op Abai’, conducted simultaneously at two premises in Bukit Mertajam on July 21.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Muslim Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said to date, two of the 20 rescued children have been reunited with their relatives.
"The department is carrying out further investigations, including the documentation process for the children, aged between 15 days and 16 years.
"At the same time, the department is interviewing each child to confirm their identities and trace their parents or family members, intending to reunite them where possible," she told Bernama at the AI Horizon 2025 launch ceremony at the Arena SPICE here on Friday (Aug 8).
She urged parents or guardians of the remaining children to come forward to assist in the investigation and reclaim their children, adding that they will be placed under the care of a Welfare Department institution if unclaimed.
She said investigations found the children had been living at the two raided premises for a significant period - some for as long as two years - with many claiming to not know their parents.
Lim said 12 of the children were found without valid birth certificates or identification documents.
Most of them spoke Mandarin, and the Welfare Department is working closely with several other agencies to determine their citizenship status as part of an ongoing investigation.
All of them are currently safe, in good health and placed in an institution gazetted as a safe place by the government. They have also received a Temporary Care Order from the Bukit Mertajam Court.
The media previously reported that 10 boys and 10 girls, including a 15-day-old baby, were rescued by the Welfare Department in a special operation in collaboration with the police at a warehouse in a factory area and a house that was used as an unregistered learning centre.
Some of the children were found without legal guardians and are believed to have been deprived of basic necessities. They have been classified as children in need of care and protection under Section 17 of the Child Act 2001. — Bernama
