KUCHING: The Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM) has welcomed the government’s initiative to introduce a new court-level standard operating procedure (SOP) to expedite the resolution of cases involving children.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, said the move also supports the recommendation of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, to ensure that all cases involving children are resolved within a year.
“That is indeed one of our objectives. However, we cannot interfere with the jurisdiction under the Law Minister. But since it has been proposed, we fully support it,” she said.
She revealed this when met with reporters after officiating the Kasih Keluarga Programme and kick-off of the National Family Month 2025 celebration in conjunction with Santubong Day at at Dataran Astaka Lagenda, Kampung Santubong here on today.
She added that her ministry always relies on the procedures and guidelines set by other ministries in legal matters but is committed to cooperating to ensure the SOP is implemented smoothly.
“That is one of the best ways to ensure we comply with the law. Our ministry, which looks after children, only carries out welfare responsibilities, but in terms of court procedures, we rely on the responsible ministry, and if there is a new SOP to expedite the process, we welcome it,” she explained.
Nancy emphasised that the Social Welfare Department (JKM) already has its own procedures, but the implementation of the new court-level SOP will further strengthen coordination between agencies.
“Administratively, we already have our own SOP. If the courts can expedite the process as suggested, it will greatly assist us in safeguarding the welfare of the children involved,” she said.
Earlier, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman announced that the government would launch the new SOP on 24 October at the Palace of Justice, to ensure that all cases involving children were resolved within a year as part of the efforts to strengthen the country’s child justice system.
