Kuala Lumpur: Guidelines to standardise and simplify the registration process for childcare centres (taska) in Selangor will be introduced in July, said State Women Development and Social Welfare Committee chairman Anfaal Saari. Anfaal emphasized that these guidelines aim to increase the number of registered childcare centres in the state and were developed in collaboration with the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anfaal highlighted that as of January, 959 centres were registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM), while another 164 remained unregistered. To assist operators, the state government is offering grants of up to RM5,000 to help cover registration costs, especially those related to complying with technical agency requirements.
She further explained that one-stop centres at the state and district levels have been activated to streamline the registration process until operators fulfill the necessary technical agency requirements. A total of 201 childcare centres have successfully registered with assistance as of December 2024, she mentioned during the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Anfaal was responding to a query from Pang Sock Tao (PH-Kuala Kubu Bharu) on the status of registered and unregistered childcare centres in Selangor. She also stated that to ensure compliance, reminder notices are issued and enforcement actions are taken against operators not adhering to the Child Care Centre Act 1984.
Additionally, Anfaal disclosed the formation of a Special Committee for the Improvement of Care Services. This committee comprises representatives from local authorities, JKM, PlanMalaysia Selangor, the Selangor Health Department, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Selangor Economic Planning Unit. The committee's role is to evaluate and enhance existing regulations and standards while developing standardised guidelines for childcare services.
On a separate issue, Anfaal reported that the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) recorded 1,300 domestic violence cases in Selangor last year. These cases included 871 against women, 286 against men, and 143 against children. To address domestic violence, the state government plans to expand awareness programmes, such as a campaign against gender-based violence, beginning in April.
The campaign will be executed as a state-wide roadshow in collaboration with stakeholders like local authorities, district and land offices, PDRM, the Ministry of Health, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department, and community leaders, she added. Anfaal was responding to a question from Mariam Abdul Rashid (PH-Meru) regarding the number of domestic violence cases involving women and children by district in Selangor.