Wan Azizah: Child minders may have to be registered
KUALA LUMPUR: All child minders may have to be formally registered as yet another baby under the care of a babysitter is fighting for his life in hospital.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government was looking into amending the law to get all child minders registered with her Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Responding to the case of a fourmonth-old baby boy who is in critical condition at a Seremban hospital, she said the task force set up under the purview of the ministry was also looking into a registry for child minders.
It would also look into improving childcare services in the country besides addressing loopholes in the law, Dr Wan Azizah said.
“The report (we received) stated that the child minder did not have any training from the ministry. This is one of the loopholes – that it is not compulsory for those caring for less than four children to get training from the ministry.
“We need to tighten the laws,” she said during a Hari Raya Haji event at Masjid Nurul Hidayah here yesterday.
The DPM was asked to comment on the case involving Muhammad Ummar Zayyan Mohammad Haikal who is at the intensive care unit of the Tuanku Ja’afar Hospital since Tuesday.
The infant’s mother rushed him to hospital after the babysitter told her that he had lost consciousness.
The 23-year-old babysitter has been detained by police.
Dr Wan Azizah said the Selangor government was already sponsoring basic training for childcare ser- vice operators.
She also said a registry for all child minders in the country was needed to ensure none had criminal records and urged parents to choose those who were qualified and registered with the ministry.
Seremban OCPD ACP Thiew Hock Poh said police obtained a court order to remand the babysitter for seven days.
The suspect was detained at the district police station here at about 9pm on Friday.
Earlier at another event, Dr Wan Azizah accompanied the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, to the Royal Floria Putrajaya flower and garden show.
Also present was Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin.
The royal couple spent time visiting the main attractions, among them the Perak Royal Garden.
On display was a replica of Istana Kenangan Kuala Kangsar and the Labu Sayung in the middle of a pond lined by flowers with a replica of the Kuala Kangsar Clock Tower.