THE government is studying the proposal to establish a National Children’s Commission, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said the proposal is timely and worthy of consideration, given the growing number of issues concerning children’s safety, welfare and protection.
“The establishment of a National Children’s Commission is a very good and relevant suggestion that deserves to be considered seriously, especially in light of the current challenges faced by children in our country,” she said when winding up the debate on Budget 2026 on behalf of her ministry.
Azalina said the government would study the proposal in detail, including its mandate, structure, legal framework and financial implications, to ensure it does not overlap with existing institutions.
“For now, children’s rights functions are carried out by the Children’s Commissioner under Suhakam, which advises the government, monitors the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and investigates complaints of rights violations,” she said.
Azalina added that the government believes it is important to strengthen the role and autonomy of the Children’s Commissioner as an immediate step, while continuing to study the best institutional model for protecting children’s rights based on international best practices and Malaysia’s own context.
Citing national statistics, she said there were 9.13 million children under 18 in Malaysia in 2023, accounting for about 27.4% of the total population.
“This shows that the idea of having a dedicated commission for children is timely and aligns with the government’s vision to eventually have a children’s commissioner in every state,” she said.
At present, there are only three commissioners handling children’s matters nationwide, she noted, adding that this is insufficient given the country’s size, including Sabah and Sarawak.
“I informed the Cabinet last week that with new initiatives such as the proposed Anti-Bullying Tribunal Act, the role of the Children’s Commissioner’s office should also be expanded to focus more deeply and effectively on these issues.
“The government hopes that once the ongoing study is completed, the Cabinet can consider whether there is a need for a dedicated National Children’s Commission, possibly to be placed under Suhakam,” Azalina added.
