A TOTAL of 1,352 cases of severely neglected or abandoned children have been recorded over the last five years, says the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
The cases are classified under Section 17(1) of the Child Act 2001 (Act 611), which covers children in need of care and protection.
“The ministry, through the Social Welfare Department (JKM), is responsible for rescuing and providing protection to children who are found.
“Investigations into such cases are conducted by the police,” the ministry said in a written reply on Monday.
It said in some of these cases, no documents were found when these children were rescued, making it impossible to determine their status.
“In such cases, JKM takes action to rescue and place the children under a court order – either in a children’s home or under the care of a ‘Fit and Proper Person’.”
The ministry was responding to Mohd Misbahul Munir Masduki (PN-Parit Buntar) on the number of illegitimate children who have been abandoned since 2020.
