Minister Nancy Shukri eyes more protection officers for child-related cases

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 18 — Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said she hoped to increase the recruitment of protection officers to handle child-related cases in the country.

She said her ministry has currently has 13,000 openings for such officers, based on the previously approved headcount.

“It is actually a continuous process and the ministry has approval to recruit 18,000 although now we only have 5,000. We are recruiting more to place them throughout the country

“If we go according to budget, we don’t have enough as we need one officer to five cases; so, it is still insufficient,” Nancy told reporters after officiating a townhall session on Child Services (child care and protection).

As of November 2022, Nancy said the ministry through the Welfare Department (JKM) has handled a total of 5,572 cases of abuse and neglect ranging from physical, sexual, emotional abuse and general neglect.

During her address at the townhall session, she said the cases were handled by Welfare Department staff designated as protectors under the Children Act 2001.

“I call on all JKM officers as well ministry staff to constantly monitor child-related issues that are highlighted on social media.

“Consider them as your own children. Report it immediately,” Nancy said.

Nancy also clarified that the independent children’s commission announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not overlap with her ministry.

“It will be an independent commission which monitors all child-related matters, so we can also use the facility.

“There is no overlapping of responsibilities (with the ministry), we will continue to do our work but this will not only help the Home Ministry but also help with the Education Ministry which works with children.

“So, there is no overlap; in fact, it serves a check-and-balance for us,” she said.

Earlier, the prime minister said the independent children’s commission will be set up under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

He said the commission will deal with cases of abuse and social problems related to children, adding that Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will chair a social committee to study all related problems with the involvement of the minister of women, family and community development.