THE Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has welcomed the government’s decision to implement a new standard operating procedure (SOP) requiring all court cases involving children to be concluded within one year.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the measure reflects a long-standing priority of the ministry: to uphold the welfare of children and prevent delays in the judicial system from harming young individuals involved in legal proceedings.
“Of course, we support this reform, as it reflects our aspiration to prioritise the welfare of children,” she said, speaking to the media after launching the Kasih Keluarga Programme and the National Family Month Kick-Off event in Kampung Santubong near Kuching today.
The new SOP is due to be officially launched on 24 October and forms part of broader reforms to enhance child-focused legal protections.
Nancy added that the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which operates under her ministry, is ready to work closely with other relevant agencies to ensure cases involving minors are handled swiftly and sensitively.
“As the ministry responsible for child welfare, we also depend on other ministries that are tasked with establishing procedures which will, in turn, support our efforts,” she said.
Her comments came in response to a statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who had earlier confirmed the introduction of the SOP.
Azalina explained that the move is intended to improve the efficiency of the child justice system and to avoid situations where protracted proceedings discourage children from participating or returning as witnesses in later years.
In a separate matter, Nancy also addressed ongoing public debate over proposals to reintroduce corporal punishment in schools as a disciplinary tool.
She acknowledged that some members of the public may view the measure favourably but warned of possible negative repercussions.
“The regulation may appear favourable to some members of the public, but it could also have adverse effects on students, such as instilling fear that discourages school attendance,” she said.
“In this regard, KPWKM is focusing on efforts to enhance family values as an approach to improving student discipline,” she added. - October 18, 2025
