SHAH ALAM: The state government has established a Special Committee for Improvements of Care Services in Selangor, chaired by Subang Jaya assemblyman Michelle Ng.
"This committee is mandated to review, assess, and improve the laws related to care services for children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities in Selangor," said Selangor women empowerment and welfare chairman Anfaal Saari in a statement.
"The committee’s main focus over the next year is to improve the guidelines and regulations regarding childcare in Selangor."
The committee includes representatives from the Local Authorities Section and Sectoral Section of the Selangor State Economic Planning Unit, Selangor Legal Advisor, Selangor Welfare Department, Selangor Health Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Selangor Town and Country Planning Department (PlanMalaysia), and local authorities.
Based on the latest police reports, Anfaal said child abuse and sexual abuse cases in Selangor have been the highest in Malaysia for three consecutive years.
"This highlights the critical need to review and improve the existing legal system and guidelines to ensure children’s safety," she said.
"This committee will identify and examine the gaps in the existing system and seek ways to improve them.
"In addition to safety aspects, the current guidelines will also be reviewed from a practical perspective to encourage more operators to register their care centres with the relevant government agencies," added Anfaal.
Anfaal said the requirement to operate from a corner house when the number of children in a care centre exceeds four people increases operational costs, as does applying for planning permission due to professional fees.
"It is crucial that any proposed improvements do not place an undue burden on care centre operators, while still ensuring the safety and welfare of children," she said.
"With the increase in Selangor's population due to migration, the demand for childcare services is expected to rise.
Therefore, improvement efforts are critical to ensuring the welfare and safety of the most vulnerable groups," added Anfaal.
The Taman Templer assemblyman added that the Selangor government is committed to protecting and strengthening the safety of children.
It will also continue to prioritise proactive and forward-thinking measures to ensure the state’s childcare system meets the highest standards.
Anfaal said the state government announced the committee on Sept 20, but its establishment was effective as of Nov 1.
