'Stop relying on Child Act to solve child-parent issues - activist

With increasing emphasis on providing protection for every child in Malaysia under the Child Act 2001, the government is urged to assist and improve the support base for working parents to promote effective parenting in the country.

"How can the government or state help to assist in easing the burden of men and women who work to improve family economy and essentially contribute to the economy of the country?” asked Prof Datuk Rashidah Shuib of Women's Development Research Centre (KANITA), School of Medical Sciences Universiti Sains Malaysia.

Rashidah, who is an advocate of women’s health and gender matters, during an interview with Astro AWANI recently, said that the government should closely study the present scenario to improve parenting in Malaysia.

There are pressing issues when it comes to parents-children relationships in this country and a pertinent question to ask is: are parents able to provide conducive living conditions for them to properly raise and care their children?" she said, matter-of-factly.

Social class issue is one crucial aspect to consider before addressing the new Child Act, especially when negligence or abuse cases are mostly attributed to the absence of facilities or the lack of reliable establishments to care after children when parents are at work or away from home.

“The rate or fees for kindergarten or child care would cost at least RM300 per child. Imagine a family with a household income of RM5, 000 a month. What is their state of living? How do they make ends meet? Where do they send their children when family support is beyond reach? Who can they trust?” Rashidah asked.

She further reiterated that the government should play an active role in providing and monitoring credible and reliable nurseries rather than merely relying on corporate sector to shoulder the responsibility.

There is a huge difference in parenting today than it was decade ago, stressed Rashidah. Back then, parents had better support system from their families.

“This is the reality where 70 per cent of the population is made up of the urban society and the truth remains that they have minimal connection to family support system.

Caning is not the way to go in disciplining children, said Rashidah as children need proper nurturing and attention for them to grow into healthy, responsible and happy adults.

She said that a child who ‘needs’ caning (as the most effective way to keep bad behaviour in check) reflects failure of parenting. Therefore, effective communication between parents and children needs to be established accordingly, Rashidah added.

“Parents who communicate effectively and monitor or take part in the child’s development will guarantee stability in the child’s growth. There’s a fine line between nurturing a child and just raising a child,” she said.

Rashidah is also adamant that all concerned parties particularly the state government should shoulder the responsibility in pushing for a holistic approach in addressing parenting issues to provide improved and detailed provisions to cover acts concerning physical and emotional violence against children.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim reportedly stated that caning children would be a criminal offence if the new legislation to replace the Child Act 2001 is passed by Parliament.

The ministry, too has recently announced the need to amend the Child Act 2001 which will include a heavier penalty on parents found guilty of neglecting their children and serves as a lesson to caregivers to do anything to jeopardise the children.