THERE are an alarming number of childcare centres operating without proper licencing throughout the country.
At least 1,080 such illegal childcare centres have been identified so far in the peninsula as well in the Borneo states.
Federal Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in revealing this, said her ministry is currently carrying out an operation to check on all childcare centres.
"In our ground checks, we have already identified 1,080 childcare centres that are operating without permits.
"Some of them have already started applying for permits and we are checking on the status of all of them for the sake of the safety of the children.
"We want all of them to be properly registered with our ministry.
"Their operations and management must be placed under our ministry so that such centres are professionally managed for the safety and wellbeing of the children," she said when visiting a childcare centre in Kuching.
Nancy said strict action will be taken against those who operate childcare centres without registering with the relevant authorities.
She said her ministry will not compromise on such rules and regulations.
Childcare centres throughout the country have tens of thousands of children and their safety and welfare must be strictly monitored at all times, she added.
Nancy is Member of Parliament for Santubong in southern Sarawak. – February 11, 2025
