KUCHING, Oct 20: Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan proposes mandatory security screening to also apply for home-based babysitters and caregivers in elderly homes.
Kho raised this while supporting Federal Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Dato Sri Nancy Shukri’s initiative to enforce security screening for individuals who want to work as babysitters.
She noted that the proposal aims to mitigate and reduce child abuse in daycare centres.
Kho emphasised the necessity of implementing comprehensive background checks for those employed in daycare facilities.
“As the society progressed where both parents work, more babies and young children are placed in full-time daycare centres.
“I agree that it is time we implement security background checks for those working in daycare so that parents will have peace of mind, knowing that their children are in the good hands of well-trained and responsible personnel,” she said in a statement today.
Additionally, Kho highlighted the importance of extending these stringent security checks to individuals working in senior citizen homes, as many residents in such facilities lack the ability to care for themselves or are bedridden, making the need for patient and reliable caretakers essential.
“These efforts will significantly enhance the safety and well-being of vulnerable groups in our society,” she added.
Meanwhile, in a news report by a national daily, Nancy said the Social Welfare Department (JKM) will discuss a proposal to make security screening compulsory for individuals who want to work as babysitters with the Home Ministry and police.
She explained this during the Minister’s Question Time in Parliament yesterday (Oct 19) in response to a question from Jimmy Puah Wee Tse (PH-Tebrau) on measures taken by the Ministry to reduce the increasing number of child abuse cases in Malaysia and the assistance given to victims.
Nancy further outlined that JKM has taken various steps to reduce child abuse cases, including restructuring the placement of officers at the district level.
Additionally, JKM is tightening the rules and guidelines governing the installation of closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) at childcare centres, with operators now mandated to ensure comprehensive CCTV coverage with no blind spots, except in private areas like bathrooms and changing rooms. — DayakDaily
