Call for more awareness campaigns on parental negligence

KUALA LUMPUR: Government agencies have been urged to work with non-governmental organisations to conduct more awareness campaigns for parents and guardians on what legal action can be taken against those who are negligent and leave their children without proper supervision.

Alliance for Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the group needed to be made more aware of the offence, which could be prosecuted under Section 33 of the Child Act 2001, as many were still ignorant of the existence of the law.

“For example, in western countries, if parents are found guilty of exposing their children to risk due to neglect, they will definitely be imprisoned.

“Malaysia needs to see the effectiveness of the enforcement of the Act as accidents involving children or minors continue to occur unabated,” he said.

Lee said this when asked to comment on parents and guardians who did not monitor their children’s movements until they were involved in accidents such as legs being stuck on escalators and the basikal lajak (modified bicycles) issue.

Section 33 of the Child Act 2001 stipulates that legal action can be taken against parents and guardians for leaving their children without reasonable supervision which could result in a fine not exceeding RM20,000 or imprisonment not exceeding five years or both, if convicted.

Meanwhile, crime analyst Kamal Affendi Hashim said the failure of parents to monitor their children’s movements and being insensitive to their child’s welfare was a real tragedy that needed to be addressed.

“Parents should always hold their children’s hands while on escalators, but instead, many of them is busy with their own affairs, especially on their mobile phones.

“Parents need to monitor their children’s movements and see what activities they do. This all helps reduce the risk of children being involved in unexpected incidents, while maintaining their safety,” he said. – Bernama