KUALA LUMPUR – The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has taken action against the owners of a taska (nursery) for violating the Child Care Centre Act 1984, after allegations of child abuse at the centre were made public recently.
In a statement, the ministry said that checks on the nursery premises by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) on March 29 revealed that the centre failed to adhere to the law.
“The operator was given a notice to enact immediate improvements.
“The nursery is temporarily closed to allow it to prepare a safe environment for children while increasing its childcare quality,” the ministry said in a statement today.
It added that it will not compromise on children’s safety, noting that it is the responsibility of nursery operators to keep an eye on nannies at the centres to ensure the welfare of the children under its care.
“If carelessness by a nanny results in injury to a child, immediate action must be taken by reporting the matter to the SWD and police authorities.
“In the case of this nursery, which has gone viral, the SWD will work together with police to ensure that child victims receive justice.”
While the ministry did not state which incident it was referring to, netizens were recently outraged by allegations from a mother who detailed the apparent abuse her daughter had endured in a nursery.
Without disclosing the name or location of the centre, the woman claimed that her one-year-old daughter, along with several other toddlers, were left in a bare isolation room for nearly half the day.
The woman said a police report has been lodged against the centre, which allegedly has several local outlets, while her toddler receives medical care and is treated by a child psychiatrist. – The Vibes, April 8, 2023
