Segregating the children of frontliners sends the wrong message

Filepic/The Star

On May 12, 2020, Malaysian Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin described healthcare personnel and other frontliners nationwide as “our national heroes”. He spoke about their invaluable and immense sacrifice for the nation and the risks they take by being in the front line of the battle against Covid-19. He was speaking not just of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other healthcare workers but also of the police, armed forces, food delivery drivers, supermarket workers, restaurant cooks, security guards, cleaners, rubbish collectors and many others who keep our nation functioning in this time of crisis.

It was hence extremely painful to read the updated taska (childcare centres) guidelines from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry: “Panduan Pencegahan Penularan Covid-19 Pasca Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Bagi Keselamatan Warga Taman Asuhan Kanak-Kanak (Taska)”. In Appendix 12, Section 2.1.2 it reads: “Anak-anak frontliners adalah berisiko tinggi untuk mendapat jangkitan daripada ibu bapa mereka. Tempat yang paling selamat untuk anak-anak ini adalah penjagaan di rumah. Walau bagaimanapun, sekiranya anak-anak petugas frontliners dihantar ke taska, mereka perlu diasingkan daripada anak-anak yang lain.” (Children of frontliners are at high risk of being infected by their parents. The safest place for them is home care. However, if children of frontliners are sent to childcare centres, they need to be separated from other children.)

This SOP (standard operating procedure), revised on May 22, 2020, was circulated by Welfare Ministry officers. We have confirmed with sources in the ministry that this an official revised edition.

In essence this statement is a slap in the face of all the frontliners in the country. It communicates that “yes we want your hard work, sacrifice and the risk to your own health and that of your family, but we are not going to be there for your children”. Your children are “contaminated” and should be segregated, preferably not even welcome in a nursery or childcare centre.

The very individuals who desperately require childcare so that they can serve us at this critical time are being denied this. We wonder if the Health Ministry was consulted regarding this policy decision?

It looks like frontliners will have to walk around like lepers of old with bells around their necks to warn everyone or shout out “unclean”.

That such a policy statement can come from the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is of concern. This ministry should be protecting the rights of all children and their parents, not eroding them and sending a message of non-inclusion and segregation.

What message are we giving to the public at large about all frontliners? Are we to shun them in all contexts like outcasts? Such thinking can easily spread to other areas. It also speaks of the way we have treated our immigrant workers, their families and children recently, even after their service to our nation.

We appeal to the Prime Minister to please urgently rectify this unfair decision by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and bring back inclusion to our nursery and childcare centres. Frontliners will continue to serve the nation. Please support our children and families and treat them with dignity.

THIS LETTER IS SIGNED BY 250 PAEDIATRICIANS AND SUPPORTED BY THE MALAYSIAN PAEDIATRIC ASSOCIATION