KUCHING: Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) women chief, Kho Teck Wan is backing the proposal by Minister for Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri to make security screening compulsory for individuals who want to work as babysitters.
In a press statement on Friday (Oct 20), Kho said the proposal made by Nancy is aimed at reducing cases of child abuse at daycare centres.
“As society progresses where both sets of parents are working, more and more babies and young children are placed in full-time daycare centres.
“It is time we implement security background checks for those working in daycare so parents will have ease of mind that their children are in the good hands of well trained personnel,” she said.
Kho added that she would like to propose that the security screening be done on all home based babysitters and senior citizen caretakers.
She said senior citizens who are unable to care for themselves or are bedridden require a caretaker who is patient.
“These efforts will greatly increase the safety and well-being of the vulnerable groups in our society,” she said.
On Thursday (Oct 19), Nancy disclosed the plan while responding 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 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 the police.
She said she and her ministry would also explore if the candidates need to undergo psychometric tests.
Nancy had highlighted that JKM has taken various steps to reduce cases of child abuse, including restructuring the placement of officers in the district.
JKM is also tightening the rules and guidelines for the installation of closed-circuit cameras (CCTV) at childcare centres, with operators having to ensure there are no blind spots in the CCTV coverage except in private places such as bathrooms and changing rooms
