SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Social Welfare Department is investigating a childcare provider after complaints of alleged child abuse and standard operating procedures violations at several of its branches recently went viral.
Selangor director Azmir Kasim said the department had received three complaints involving branches in Section 3 Shah Alam, Kota Kemuning and Puchong Prima.
"All the cases are currently under investigation by the department. Officers have been instructed to conduct on-site investigations following the complaints received," he said when contacted on Wednesday (Jan 21).
In a statement Wednesday evening, the Social Welfare Department said it had conducted inspections at the three locations concerned at 10am on Wednesday.
"All three centres are not registered as 'taska' operators under the Childcare Centre Act 1984. Following this discovery, the state Welfare Department will take action under the relevant portions of the Act," it said.
The statement added that the premises were also found to be in an unsatisfactory condition - not conducive for the purpose and not meeting the appropriate sfaety requirements.
"With regard to allegations of child abuse, the matter has been reported to the police and is currently under investigation," the department said.
It added that the Selangor Social Welfare Department would meet with the operators of the childcare centres to obtain further clarification.
"The safety, protection and wellbeing of children are the highest priorities in the provision of childcare services in this country," it said.
Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has reportedly said that Mara did not provide funding to the alleged child care centre in Shah Alam linked to alleged child abuse.
He stressed that Mara would not compromise on such misconduct, particularly those receiving funding from the agency.
Previously, a video allegedly shared by staff at a childcare centre in Shah Alam went viral on social media, claiming that an autistic child had been locked in a storeroom.
Another video that also circulated online showed children at another branch of the childcare centre instructed to crawl through a drain to avoid inspection by the department’s officers. - Bernama
Social Welfare Department, JKM Selangor, Childcare Centre, Abuse, Social Media, Viral, Video
