GEORGE TOWN: A childcare centre in Seberang Jaya where a four-month-old baby died has been temporarily closed pending further action by the authorities.
Penang welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said enforcement officers carried out the temporary closure under Section 16 of the Child Care Centre Act 1984.
She said the state government would also recommend revoking the centre’s registration certificate under Section 12 of the same Act.
"For now, the centre has been ordered to cease operations temporarily while enforcement action is carried out," she said when contacted on Tuesday (March 10).
Lim said the state government, through the Social Welfare Department, would continue to monitor the situation while providing psychological support and intervention to the victim’s family.
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"We are treating this matter very seriously. It should serve as an important reminder to all childcare centres to ensure they are properly registered and that all relevant childcare guidelines and standards are strictly adhered to," she said.
Lim said the Penang government is also considering introducing regulations limiting operators to running just one childcare centre each in the state.
She said the proposal aims to ensure that operators manage the centres responsibly, comply with the Child Care Centre Act 1984 and the Child Care Centre Regulations 2012, and do not operate solely for profit.
She added that applications to renew registrations would not be approved if caregivers do not possess the mandatory Permata Childcare Course (KAP) certification after six months of service.
"At the very least, operators must submit proof of course registration payment for the caregiver concerned before any application can be considered for approval," she said.
Earlier on Tuesday, two female employees of the 24-hour childcare centre were remanded for seven days to assist investigations into the death of a four-month-old boy at the centre, located within the compound of Hospital Seberang Jaya.
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The remand order was to facilitate investigations under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
Central Seberang Perai OCPD Asst Comm Helmi Aris said a post-mortem examination was conducted on the victim.
"The cause of death has yet to be determined and is classified as 'pending further investigations' while awaiting the results of laboratory tests and other inquiries," he said in a statement.
ACP Helmi advised the public not to speculate in a way that could affect the investigation and to give the authorities room to investigate the matter thoroughly.
The baby, identified as Hayl Haarith Mohd Syafaeez, was rushed to the emergency department at about 4am on Monday (March 9) after he was sent to the childcare centre the night before.
It is understood that the baby's mother, a 30-year-old nurse, was working the night shift at the hospital.
Doctors performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for about an hour in an attempt to revive the infant but he was pronounced dead.
The childcare centre operates 24 hours a day to support hospital staff on duty. The facility is monitored by supervisors and equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
The infant had only recently been sent to the childcare centre after his mother returned to work following her confinement period.
He was the couple’s first child.
The family has demanded justice for the child’s death.
