KUALA LUMPUR – The government has introduced specialisation in handling children among welfare officers as part of efforts to improve child protection services, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said today.
Another measure is the establishment of a special enforcement team, she said at a town hall session on child protection organised by Yayasan Chow Kit.
“Previously, community welfare officers in a district would handle the needs of all target groups, including the elderly and those with disabilities.
“Now, through the Child Development Department, specialisation in children’s services by the district can be implemented,” Nancy said in a speech at the start of the town hall session.
The Child Development Department is a new department in the ministry and began work on September 1 to address child neglect and abuse issues.
“(Another) is the establishment of a special enforcement activity team. With the presence of this team, the quality of monitoring and enforcing children’s services, such as the monitoring of children placed with foster parents or qualified and suitable people, nurseries, and care centres, will be improved,” she said.
Nancy added that programmes advocating for children’s protection have been carried out this year in collaboration with the Education Ministry and the police’s Sexual, Women and Children Crime Investigation Division, or D11 unit.
Also present at the town hall event, which was organised by HELP University, was Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Wan Azizah was previously women, family and community development minister.
Others attending today were Yayasan Chow Kit founder Hartini Zainudin, Malaysia Communications and Multimedia Commission community programme department head Hashimah Hashim, and HELP University chief executive officer Goh Chee Leong.
The town hall session is aimed at enhancing child protection in the digital era and to raise public awareness of online child abuse. – November 28, 2023