KUCHING: From January 2019 to May 31 this year, nine applications for licences to operate taska (childcare centres) were rejected by the Land and Survey Department, said Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Ministry Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
The applications were rejected because of the neighbours’ objection.
“Six applications for taska were also rejected because the proposed locations were at busy junctions,” she revealed.
“For tadika (kindergartens), three applications were rejected because of the objection from neighbours and one application was rejected because the proposed location was at a busy T- junction.”
The slow approval of licences to operate taska and tadika by the Land and Survey Department was due to various reasons, she said.
“Among the reasons were objection from neighbours and unsuitable locations,” added Fatimah.
She urged day-care centre and kindergarten applicants in Sarawak to adhere to the technical standard operating procedures (SOP) set by Land and Survey Department.
Approval by the department was vital to ensure the safety of the children in terms of the locations and building structures, she explained.
“If there is a compliance to the SOPs in terms of the location and building safety, the department will approve the application within 35 calendar days,” Fatimah told a press conference at her office here in Baitul Makmur building on Monday (June 29).
She said the applications for Taska and Tadika in Sarawak were different from Malaya.
“In Sarawak, applicants must observe the requirements from five technical agencies including the Land and Survey Department, Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Sarawak Health Department, the local authority and Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) for taska and State Education Department for tadika,” she said.
