THE Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) has handled a total of 1,466 cases under the Child Act 2001 from January 2022 to April 2023.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said it includes 638 cases that require immediate protection, including 622 cases of pregnancy out of wedlock.
“In addition, there are 403 preservation and protection cases under Section 17 and Section 41 of Child Act 2001, while a total of 41 cases of uncontrolled children under Section 46 and 384 cases involving crimes under Section 91,” she said when delivering her winding-up speech at the DUN here on today (May 23).
She added out of the total number of cases, a total of 82 have been ordered by the Children’s Court to be placed in respective welfare institutions.
“Meanwhile, to help the residents of Henry Gurney School in Puncak Borneo who have learning problems and are illiterate, the Ministry has channeled funds from the Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Empowerment Grant amounting to RM20,000.
“This is to enable the Sarawak Dyslexia Association to help Puncak Borneo Prison to organise two series of programme to improve Malaysian language literacy that benefit 21 inmates,” she said.
Commenting further, she said her Ministry had also increased the number of Moral and Protection Officers from 25 to 47 people.
“As a result of this, we achieved a ratio of 1:31 (one officer to 31 cases) to manage 1,466 cases thus meeting the international standard of 1:15-35.
“Therefore, with the improvement of this ratio, the welfare and wellbeing of children in this state will be better looked after,” said Fatimah.
