Conduct mandatory background checks, urges MP
KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition lawmaker yesterday said it is high time the government introduced mandatory screening for jobs involving children.
DAP Klang member of parliament Charles Santiago said this in relation to a report that an MIC branch leader, who was also a teacher, had allegedly solicited sex from teenage girls.
“It’s frightening that the teacher has been off the radar for this long, despite he boasting having indulged in such liaisons over the last four years.
“It’s, therefore, pertinent to make pre-employment screening and police checks mandatory for teachers, volunteers and others who work with children or have access to them.
“The government must also look into setting up a sex offenders registry and ensure that sexual predators and paedophiles have access to mental health counselling,” he told a press conference at the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.
Yesterday, it was reported that an MIC branch leader, who is also a Tamil school teacher, had solicited sex from teenage girls in exchange for employment opportunities.
MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari called on MIC leaders not to meddle in the case and to leave the matter to the authorities.
Deputy Education Minister Datuk P. Kamalanathan yesterday said that the alleged sexual predator faced dismissal as a teacher. By Arfa Yunus and Laili Ismail