KUALA LUMPUR: Over 1,300 cases of severely neglected or abandoned children have been recorded over the last five years, says the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The ministry said all 1,352 cases of abandoned or neglected children since 2020 have been classified under Section 17(1) of the Child Act 2001 (Act 611).
This section covers children in need of care and protection.
"The ministry, through the Social Welfare Department, is responsible for rescuing and providing protection to children who are found," the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply dated Monday (Oct 13).
"Meanwhile, investigations into such cases are conducted by the police," the ministry added.
It said that in some of these cases, no documents were found when these children were rescued, making it impossible to determine their status, including whether they were born out of wedlock.
"In such cases, the Social Welfare Department takes action to rescue and place the children under a Court order.
"This is either in a Children’s Home or under the care of a Fit and Proper Person (OYLS)," the ministry added.
The ministry was responding to a question from Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (Perikatan Nasional-Parit Buntar) on the number of illegitimate children who have been abandoned across the country since 2020.
