KUCHING: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has assured that strict monitoring would continue for the younger brother of the late Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matin, following his return to his father’s custody.
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said her ministry placed the child’s welfare as its priority and had imposed several conditions to ensure he grew up in a safe and supervised environment.
She said the family would be required to follow the guidelines set by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), which covered supervision, safety and access to therapy.
“There will be monitoring. We must ensure the parents care for their children safely, do not neglect them and follow the guidance provided.
“Fourteen strict conditions have been set in the best interest of the child, including ensuring he is never left unsupervised and receives appropriate education and therapy.
“We give priority to the child. These conditions are there to protect him,” she told the media when met on the sidelines of the Citra Akademik Untuk Komuniti Dan Alam (CAKnA) programme at Kampung Salak here today (Nov 22).
Nancy said JKM officers would carry out ground checks to verify compliance and assess the child’s living situation from time to time.
She said physical visits remained an important part of the ministry’s monitoring mechanism, as officers needed to observe the child’s environment directly.
“Seeing is believing. We can set conditions, but if they are not followed, it will be visible when we go on the ground.
“The child must not be displayed on social media, and the family must inform JKM of any change of address.
“If any condition is breached, JKM has the authority to take the child back into protective care,” she added.
Nancy said any subsequent removal of the child from the family would require the ministry to submit a fresh assessment to the court for its decision.
She reassured the ministry would monitor the child continuously without a fixed timeframe to ensure his wellbeing and development remained on track.
“As long as the child stays there, we will monitor his progress. There is no set time frame,” she said.
The child, who is autistic, had been placed in temporary care following the remand of his parents in May last year.
He was recently returned to his father through a court order with JKM-set conditions.
