Bangi nursery abuse: Make CCTV compulsory if child abuse cases rise - Rohani

It is mandatory to install closed-circuit television camera (CCTV).

This was the consideration by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) if cases related to mismanage and abuse at nurseries and daycare centres would continue to rise.

Its Minister, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the installation of CCTV is the best option to ensure the safety of children placed at daycare centres and kindergartens.

“CCTV is the best option to convince parents to send their children to the day care centres, we must show that we have high standards to ensure the best for the children,” she said.

Rohani said this when asked about the alleged an incident involving a kindergarten in Bangi at the pre-launch of Women’s Fiesta here today.

The alleged abuse surfaced after Facebook posts showed an image of three children lying emotionless on the floor with mouths gagged with strips of cloth.

Police have recorded statements from several people and sent the children to hospital for check-up after receiving a report on Thursday.

Rohani had confirmed that the nursery had since closed from operating. She also thanked the public’s concern in curbing the case from becoming viral.

“Yes, our enforcement officers are constantly monitoring the operating kindergartens but the response from the public is also crucial especially in determining centres that are operating without licenses. If an incident happens, the first thing the enforcement will ask is if the centre is licensed or not. If it is licensed, the investigation procedures are different,” said Rohani.

“The kindergarten in Bangi has committed an offence (for operating illegally without license). If it is licensed our standard operating procedures are strict. That is why the owner refused to register for a license,” she added.

Prior to this, Rohani had only recommended that CCTV at nurseries and daycare centres are advisable through MyMata initiative which was introduced last year.

Through this approach, parents are able to access the video from their mobile phones, she stressed.

“I never made it compulsory before as we want to closely monitor the nurseries or daycare centres. Making it compulsory means there is penalty and punishment, so I only suggested to do it voluntarily.

“Since too many incidents had happened recently, I feel like making CCTV as compulsory,” she stressed.

To date, four individuals including the nursery manager, have been remanded after they were picked up by police on Saturday.

The three children were sent to hospital for check-up after receiving a report on Thursday.