JOHOR BARU: The Johor Welfare Department has closed a childcare centre in Taman Mutiara Rini, Iskandar Puteri following the case of abuse of two babies.
Johor women, family, and community development committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail said she had personally met with the owner of the centre and sealed the other two childcare centres.
“We closed and sealed the childcare centre at 10am Tuesday (May 16) along with the two other branches in Jalan Abdul Samad, Johor Baru, and Gelang Patah.
She said that the investigations conducted revealed that the childcare centres have been operating for the past two months without a licence.
“They did apply for a licence to operate but have not received a response from the Fire and Rescue Department, the Health Department, or the local council,” she said when contacted.
The shutdown order was issued under Section 20a of the Child Care Centre Act 1984, she added.
“I would like to remind parents out there to always conduct background checks on the childcare centres.
“As for the childcare centres, they must always ensure that their babysitters are qualified and certified to perform their duties to take care of the children,” she said.
Earlier, a 21-year-old woman who worked as a babysitter at the centre was remanded for four days to help with investigations for allegedly abusing two babies at the centre.
The remand order from May 16 until 19 was granted by Magistrate R. Salini at the Johor Baru Magistrate's Court here.
The case is being investigated under Section 31(1)(A) of the Child Act 2001, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years or a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Kamarul Zaman Mamat had said the woman was arrested in Bandar Selesa Jaya, Skudai, at around 2am on Tuesday.
He also said the childcare centre was operating without a licence.
