SHAH ALAM: The founder and manager of a childcare centre here pleaded not guilty in the Shah Alam Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday (April 22) to charges of operating without approval.
The founder, Datin Nor Fadilah Alias, 36, and its manager, Nurrul Farhana Ramlee, 33, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Magistrate Muhammad Syafiq Sulaiman.
According to the charge, they were jointly accused of operating a childcare centre without a valid licence from the Social Welfare Department, in Seksyen 3, Shah Alam, at 3.54pm on Jan 21, 2025.
Both accused were charged under Section 6 of the Childcare Centre Act 1984, read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, and if found guilty, could face a maximum fine of RM10,000, up to two years in jail, or both.
In addition, Nor Fadilah and Nurrul Farhana each face a separate charge of operating an unregistered childcare centre in Kota Kemuning here at 12.30pm on Jan 19, 2025, under Section 6(1) of the Childcare Centre Act 1984, which carries a penalty under Section 6(2) of the same Act of a maximum fine of RM10,000, up to two years in jail, or both.
Nurrul Farhana also faces another charge of negligence for endangering the life of a child in her care by leaving the child locked in a room at a childcare centre at 4.32pm on Oct 6, 2025. The charge, framed under Section 336 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to RM500.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Khawarizmi Azfar offered bail of RM6,000 for each charge.
However, defence lawyer Anwar Ezzad Zainal, representing both accused, asked for the amount to be reduced to RM2,000 for each charge and stressed that bail is not a punishment, but is meant to ensure his clients turn up in court.
Muhammad Syafiq then granted both accused bail of RM3,000 for each charge with one surety, and set May 25 for the re-mention of the case.
Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing an autistic child locked in a storeroom and crying uncontrollably at a childcare centre in Shah Alam, before the Social Welfare Department confirmed that the centre was unregistered. – Bernama
