KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s children activity centres – known as Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak (PAKK) in Bahasa Malaysia, which organise programmes and provide protections for socially at-risk kids – have been left in the lurch after being informed that funding will be halted beginning today.
Yayasan Chow Kit, which runs one of the drop-in centres in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department (SWD), was notified of the decision yesterday morning via a WhatsApp message to centre operators here.
It is believed that the move will affect all 149 PAKK nationwide. The majority of these centres rely on government funding to pay for the rental of their premises, as well as the facilities and incidentals to keep running.
Yayasan Chow Kit founder Hartini Zainudin said SWD is supposed to foot the monthly utility bills, as well as the department’s staff allowances for a supervisor and a cleaner at each centre.
“They just told us we won’t be getting paid from May until further notice,” she told The Vibes.
“They said this will go on until new committee members for the department’s Child Protection Team (CPT) are appointed.”
According to the department’s website, CPT members oversee the running of PAKK, which provide services including childcare, computer and tuition classes, and counselling.
Hartini said the operating cost for her centre comes up to tens of thousands of ringgit each month, of which RM2,000 is borne by SWD.
“Personally, I think our foundation will be fine, but what about the other smaller centres? Where are they going to get the money from? I’m not sure how they are going to afford it.
“My biggest concern is the children. Where are they going to go if the centres can’t afford to operate?”
She said her foundation alone is caring for more than 120 children of various ages.
She has also sent an email to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun appealing the decision to halt funding.
Earlier, Hartini took to Twitter to air her frustration at the decision, saying SWD should get its priorities in order.
Just been told that @JKMHQ said no money to pay our electricity bill and staff allowance?. Really? No money to pay one of your children’s day care center for the poor? No money for monthly electricity bill and cleaners and your one staff?
— Tini z (@tiniz) April 30, 2021
She noted that centre operators were later told that the department will reimburse the payments once the new committee members are appointed.
“So, all the poor government-run centres will shut down? What happens to the yearly allowance of RM16,000 to pay rent? You’re going to take that away, too?
“And where and how are people supposed to work if they know their children aren’t in safe spaces, especially in poorer areas?
“If you don’t have money (to reimburse the centres), then how? The smaller, poorer centres, how? There’s austerity, and then, there’s just plain stupidity.”
The Vibes attempted to contact SWD, but it was unreachable. – The Vibes, May 1, 2021
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