JOHOR BARU – Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has proposed three measures to the government to prevent the recurrence of abuse cases, like the one involving teenager Bella who has Down Syndrome.
Tunku Ismail, through a meeting with Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun at the Royal Johor Polo Club here, said he planned to propose to the government to immediately improve laws, such as the Child Act 2001.
“It (improvement) must cover aspects on registration of childcare centres, accreditation, evaluation, financing and monitoring so as to ensure all operators operate legally,” Tunku Ismail said in a post on his Facebook page today.
Tunku Ismail said the Social Welfare Department (SWD) must also carry out enforcement by auditing all existing approved childcare centres as well as immediately shutting down childcare centres not registered with the SWD or operating illegally in the state.
Tunku Ismail said legal action should also be taken against the operators or owners of any organisation running illegally.
“An urgent study must also be done regarding the conditions for childcare centres starting in Johor to be accredited along with guidelines from Unicef and other independent institutions.
“The results of the study must be made public. I will ensure these improvement proposals are taken seriously and implemented immediately,” said Tunku Ismail.
Earlier, the meeting was also attended by Che’ Puan Besar Khaleeda Bustamam, Unicef representative to Malaysia Amanda Bissex and state Women, Family and Community Development committee chairman Khairin Nisa Ismail.
13-year-old Bella’s case went viral on social media last year when a woman claimed that the teenager was scalded by hot water and was tied while under the care of Rumah Bonda, a welfare home. – Bernama, April 19, 2022
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