KUALA LUMPUR: Mandatory background screening for child sexual offenders has been suggested by the Welfare Department (JKM) as a preventive measure in the recruitment of those working with children.
Saying this would help strengthen child protection, the department added that the measure was not prejudicial or to punish anyone.
“It is to maintain appropriate security controls. Prevention is always better than dealing with the effects after an incident has occurred,” it said in reply to queries by The Star.
JKM said such checks should become standard practice in all institutions and organisations involved with children.
“Every child has the right to grow up in an environment free from the threat of sexual abuse and exploitation. Screening is a preventive measure,” it said, adding that individuals with access to children must clear such checks.
As of June 9, a total of 442 applications have been recorded in the Anak System for review under the e-DKK module.
Screenings are usually requested by parents, individuals or employers hiring those who will care for children mainly in daycare, nurseries and kindergartens, as a safeguard against those with a criminal record.
JKM clarified that the e-DKK system did not store or maintain a list of child sexual offenders. Instead, it said checks were conducted through the e-Justice system under the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court.
The e-DKK system enables parents, individuals and employers who hire persons to manage children to check whether an applicant has a record of sexual offences against children.
In 2025, the e-DKK system migrated to the Anak system, which was developed to manage records involving children subjected to abuse and neglect, child offenders and Eligible and Suitable Persons (OYLS).
Among the five modules in the system are the Children’s Register; OYLS Registration and Foster Child Matching, which includes applications from the public to become foster parents and the integration of children’s data under Section 30(1)(c)(i) or 30(1)(c)(ii) through the Child Institution Profiling and Foster Child Application System; and Child Sexual Offender Check which is integrated with the e-Justice system of the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court.
The Child Sexual Offender Check includes data migrated from the e-DKK system as well as Reports and Statistics, which enables reports to be generated easily through the Anak system.
JKM said applications for checks could be submitted online through the Anak system, after which an applicant’s record would be verified through the e-Justice system.
