KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), through the Malaysian Welfare Department (JKM), is implementing the Childcare Centre Service Advocacy Programme nationwide starting from April 2024.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri highlighted the urgency of the programme, particularly in light of recent incidents of child deaths in vehicles across Malaysia.
According to statistics from the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), 12 such cases have been recorded from 2020 to February 2024.
“Our ministry is committed to preventing such tragic incidents from recurring. In addition to collaborating with relevant agencies, we are launching awareness campaigns through mass media to educate parents and caregivers,” said Nancy.
Speaking at the Childcare Centre Fee Subsidy presentation ceremony and Child Safety in Vehicles Campaign 2024 held at the Borneo Cultures Museum here on Monday (March 18), she stressed the importance of community support in addressing this issue.
As part of the effort, JKM has introduced Child Safety Guidelines in Registered Daycare Centres (TASKA), effective from Jan 1 of this year.
These guidelines include provisions for parents or guardians to promptly inform daycare centres of any delays or absences of their children, within 30 minutes of expected arrival.
“Information of the child’s whereabouts can be made either through a phone call or a short message. This measure aims to prevent parents from forgetting and always be aware of the whereabouts of children at the nursery.”
Aside from this, Nancy stressed that every child in the nursery must have a daily log that must be updated by the nurseries daily.
“The nursery must make an entry in the daily log after relevant actions are taken. The nursery operators continuously monitor at least once every week of the nurseries under them.”
Nancy reiterated that every relevant person should play their respective roles, especially parents, for the sake of the children.
