KUALA LUMPUR, April 8 – 6,144 cases of child abuse were recorded in 2021, according to statistics from the National Welfare Department (JKM).
Out of that figure, 274 cases of abuse were caused by babysitters, said Rina Harun, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
In 2021, JKM also received complaints about seven cases of abuse at nurseries and two cases at care centres involving children, she added.
Rina was responding to Senator Jefridin Atan who wanted case statistics related to negligence, neglect and abuse of infants and children by their babysitters, and at nurseries and child care centres in 2021.
He also wanted to know what efforts the Ministry is taking to further tighten the monitoring of nurseries that are registered with the Ministry.
“Monitoring, periodic and surprise inspections of nurseries and care centres that are registered are carried out at least twice a year by authorised officers,” said Rina.
“Care centre operators are required to make assessments using the MYKendiri system to ensure that their centres comply with the prescribed Acts and regulations,” she said in her written Dewan Negara reply on March 30.
MyKendiri is a web based system for self assessment to be completed by care centre operators.
