Anfaal (seated, centre) and Azmir (on her right) together with Selangor Social Welfare Department officers who attended the two-day conference in Subang Jaya. — LOW BOON TAT/The Star
Child negligence is the most common type of abuse in Selangor, says state Social Welfare Department director Azmir Kassim.
He said negligence would include parents who failed to provide education opportunities to their children.
Azmir was speaking at the Selangor Children’s Protection and Welfare conference, where nine resolutions were passed pertaining to child neglect and negligence.
“One of the resolutions includes the need to work closely with education authorities in cases where parents do not send their children to school,” he said.
Another resolution was to ensure the public remained vigilant over the welfare of children in their neighbourhood.
“It would be great if they can inform our department if they notice anything amiss,” said Azmir.
He added that department officers from all nine districts in the state produced one resolution each on issues related to children’s protection and welfare at the conference.
Azmir said the resolutions will be presented at a national symposium in September.
A total of 136 officers from the department attended the two-day conference at a hotel in Subang Jaya.
State women, family empowerment, welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari said last year, 2,687 cases related to child abuse were reported in Selangor.
“In the first five months of the year, 1,067 abuse cases were reported.
“The cases comprised physical, sexual, emotional abuse as well as negligence,” said Anfaal in her speech at the closing ceremony of the conference.
“These are just the recorded cases and we believe there are many more that go unreported.”
She urged neighbours to play a more responsible role by informing the relevant authorities if they suspect child abuse.
“The children must know that society cares for them,” Anfaal added.
She said parents with special needs children were sometimes overwhelmed and that the community must extend help when needed.
