On 20 September 2024, the Selangor State Government announced the establishment of the Special Committee for Improvement of Care Services (JKPPP). This committee has been mandated to review, assess, and improve laws related to care services for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities in Selangor. An appointment for Chairperson of the JKPPP has also been made and Sdri Michelle Ng Mei Sze’s name was announced.
In the coming year, the committee’s primary focus will be to improve guidelines and regulations related to child care services in Selangor. According to recent police reports, child abuse and sexual abuse cases in Selangor have been the highest in Malaysia for three consecutive years. This highlights the critical need to review and improve existing legal frameworks and guidelines to ensure the safety of children.
The committee is tasked to identify and examine gaps in the current system and seek ways to address them. In addition to safety, existing guidelines will also be reviewed for practical considerations to encourage more operators to register their centres with the relevant government agencies. For example, requirements to operate in corner housing lots when caring for more than four children increases operational costs, as does the process of obtaining planning permission, which involves consultancy fees. It is essential that any recommended improvements does not place an additional burden on care centre operators but still guarantees the safety and welfare of children.
With the increase in Selangor’s population due to migration, demand for care services is expected to rise. Therefore, these improvement efforts are critical to ensuring the welfare and safety of vulnerable groups.
The Selangor State Government is committed to protecting and strengthening child safety and will continue to prioritize proactive and forward-thinking measures to ensure the care system in the state meets the highest standards.
