{"id":23719,"date":"2021-08-23T15:19:14","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T07:19:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/?p=23719"},"modified":"2021-08-23T15:28:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-23T07:28:29","slug":"ismail-sabri-needs-to-prioritise-the-wellbeing-of-children-in-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.therocket.com.my\/en\/ismail-sabri-needs-to-prioritise-the-wellbeing-of-children-in-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Ismail Sabri needs to prioritise the wellbeing of children in Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Media statement by MP for Segambut, Hannah Yeoh on 22 August 2021:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Ismail Sabri Needs to Establish A Ministry of Children<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Ismail Sabri needs to prioritise the wellbeing of children. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia 2020, the population of children is about 30% in most states, with Wilayah Persekutuan coming top at 38.5% (almost hitting 40%!). This is a sizable group and they are indeed our future and our greatest asset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

This pandemic has exposed and amplified the weaknesses of our country\u2019s system to adequately protect children. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Food baskets provided by the Government did not include milk for infants and toddlers. After more than a year of battling Covid-19, the Perikatan Nasional government woke up to the need of identifying children who were made orphans by Covid-19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Challenges<\/em><\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

Prior to the Covid-era, children in Malaysia were already facing many challenges and violations. Child abuse, sexual acts against children and neglect are common forms of violation to children in Malaysia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During Pakatan Harapan\u2019s time in Putrajaya, we focused heavily on issues relating to children because of their vulnerability – the inability to protect themselves leading to harm being caused. Among the initiatives introduced to improve children safety include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

  • We appointed the first Children\u2019s Commissioner.<\/strong><\/li>
  • Launched the first child sex offenders registry.<\/strong><\/li>
  • Provided millions in grant to establish childcare in the workplace for our civil service.<\/strong><\/li>
  • Launched infographics for childcare providers and parents. <\/strong><\/li>
  • Partnered with Google to bring awareness videos on bad touch vs good touch for young children.<\/strong><\/li>
  • Provided WhatsApp services for Talian Kasih to make it more accessible.<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

    Work-In-Progress<\/em><\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

    All the above would require dedicated resources and manpower in protecting our children. As such, we had then launched a study on creating an Agency For Children and we were also working on increasing multiple folds the 208 child protectors we have. Currently, a child protector takes up 80 children\u2019s cases leaving them insufficient time for follow-ups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

    The actual ratio of protector and children is 1:45,142 and this is simply impossible for protection of children to be effective. <\/h4>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n

    There were also preliminary meetings being held to restructure early childhood education and care (ECCE), recommendations for the Home Ministry to simplify citizenship procedures for children involving Malaysian mothers, adoption process, foster care and data sharing with the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


    <\/p>\n\n\n\n