DPM: 38,333 creches needed for kids under 4
SEPANG: Malaysia needs to have at least 38,333 registered creches to cater to children under the age of 4.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yesterday said only 4,302 childcare centres were registered with the Welfare Department.
She said the government wanted to see more creches in workplaces.
“We want to have more registered childcare centres at workplaces, which fulfil all requirements and are manned by qualified childcare workers,” she said.
“This is an issue that needs urgent attention. I hope more private institutions will start looking into setting up in-house creches.
“The government fully supports this initiative and provides tax exemptions, which can be redeemed by employers based on the Feb 15, 1996, circular by the Inland Revenue Board.
“This included tax exemptions for renovations and maintenance of buildings for the setting up of creches.”
Earlier, Wan Azizah, who is also the women, family and community development minister, launched AirAsia Bhd’s Taska Krista@RedQ at its headquarters here.
The 413sq m facility includes four classrooms, a nursing lounge, a sick bay, toilets, a dining area, a pantry, a drying room, an administration office, indoor and outdoor play areas. It is equipped with toys, learning aids and multimedia facilities.
Operated by Krista Education, an expert in early childhood education for more than 22 years, the childcare centre will cater for the children of AirAsia staff, aged between 11 months and 6 years, for a minimal monthly fee.
AirAsia group chief executive officer and AirAsia X co-group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said one of the airlines’ core values was putting people first, not just customers, but staff, too.
He said AirAsia wanted to set up the creche when it was based at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal, but could not do so due to constraints.
“Since this (RedQ) building is ours, we can build the creche. If necessary, we may expand the service to other places.”
Fernandes said the creche had about 50 children and could accommodate 80.
It operates between 7am and 7pm.
He believed that the creche and other facilities could boost staff productivity.
“We have such a fantastic workforce.
“We believe in doing what is right (for our staff) to keep them happy,” he said, adding that the company had a system to gauge the level of happiness among staff.
He said AirAsia had set up a rescue house for dogs and was now exploring the possibility of setting up a rescue house for cats.