THE Selangor state government is set to introduce new comprehensive guidelines aimed at strengthening the operations of care centres — including nurseries, kindergartens, homes for the elderly, and facilities for persons with disabilities — in an effort to ensure child safety and prevent recurring abuse cases.
Selangor’s Executive Councillor for Women’s Development and Social Welfare, Anfaal Shaari, said the new framework is in its final stages of refinement and is expected to be launched around October or November, pending approval from the State Executive Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri, MMKN).
“Among our efforts is to create a safe space by improving the quality of care centres through uniform guidelines that reduce bureaucracy while ensuring operators adhere to quality and safety standards,” she said.
Anfaal made the remarks when speaking to reporters at the Selayang Indah Public Field on Sunday during the People's Sports and Cultural Carnival in conjunction with Malaysia’s Independence Day celebrations.
The initiative comes in response to public outcry following two recent child abuse cases in Kuala Selangor.
In the first case, a 54-year-old woman was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment on 4 July after being found guilty of abusing her 13-year-old adopted daughter using a pestle, mortar and knife between 2016 and 2018, leaving the child with severe injuries.
In the second, another 13-year-old girl was rescued from Taman Bendahara after being severely neglected by her adoptive mother — often left hungry, out of school and forced to scavenge for food. That case was exposed following a report by an NGO volunteer on 5 July.
Commenting on these developments, Anfaal noted a growing public willingness to report abuse to the authorities.
“In the past, some abuse cases went unreported due to fears of repercussions for the whistleblower. But now, communities are more willing to come forward. This shows rising awareness and greatly assists both law enforcement and the Social Welfare Department,” she added.
She stressed that tackling child abuse requires a holistic approach, including addressing mental health issues and economic stress faced by parents or guardians.
Asked whether the state planned to introduce its own dedicated hotline, Anfaal said Selangor would continue using existing national channels under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, such as the 15999 Talian Kasih hotline.
At the same time, the state government is also collaborating with Selangor’s Religious Affairs Executive Councillor, Dr Fahmi Ngah, to enhance safety measures in boarding institutions under state jurisdiction, including tahfiz schools and registered hostels under the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS).
“We want students to have a space to speak up, to be educated about what is right and wrong so they don’t remain silent victims. For example, if they are touched inappropriately or verbally abused, they must know that such actions are wrong and should be reported,” she said. - August 31, 2025
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