1. CHILD CARE AND PROTECTION IN MALAYSIA
HAJAH NOR AMNI YUSOFF
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MALAYSIA

2. INTRODUCTION About Malaysia
Malaysia is situated in the heart of South-East Asia just north
of the Equator
It is made up two regions
i. Peninsular Malaysia
ii. East Malaysia ( Sabah and Sarawak)
These two regions cover an area of about 330,434 square
kilometer
Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual and
multi-cultural society

3. MALAYSIA MAP
PENINSULAR MALAYSIA
EAST MALAYSIA

4. Social Economic Policies and Plans
Population
In May 2006, the population of Malaysia is million and growing
at an average annual rate of 2.3 percent.
45 % of the population are children below the age of 18 years.
Social Economic Policies and Plans
i. Five Year Development Plans
ii. The New Economic Policy
iii. The National Development Policy
iv. The National Education Philosophy
v. The National Social Welfare Policy
vi. The National Social Policy

5. The National Social Welfare Policy
To create a society whose members are imbued with the spirit of self-reliance, enjoy equal opportunities especially for the less fortunate.
The Five Year Development Plan
- Emphasis on enhancing educational opportunities, better nutrition and healthcare and strengthening the family institution to ensure security and safety of children

6. The National Social Policy
Enhancing social development which takes into considerations the national philosophy and the various social policies of the country.
- The main strategies are towards enhancing life long empowerment of the individual, strengthening social support systems, delivery of effective social services, promoting social inclusion and generation of multi-sector collaboration and synergy.

7. National Plan of Action on Children
(NPAC) following the commitment made during the World Summit on Children 1990.
Led by Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister’s Department and participation of a number of Ministries and agencies.
– Second Plan of Action - after ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
- The plan is in line with the thrust of development relating to children’s survival, protection, development and participation as provided for in the CRC and Vision 2020.

8. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE (DSW)
Set up in the year 1946
Has been placed under several Ministries from 1952 and now is under the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
15 states welfare offices
110 district welfare offices
59 welfare institutions

9. The Child Act 2001
To replace Child Protection Act 1991, The Courts Act 1947 and Women and Girl Protection Act 1973.
Enforced in August 2002 and covers ;
- Child abuse and neglect,
- Child prostitution and sexual exploitation (such as street children)
- Child trafficking
- Children without primary caregives as well as issues pertaining to juvenile justice including children’s courts.
Under The Child Act 2001, a child means a person below age of eighteen years.

10. Provisions Contributing To A Protective Environment
(a) A coordinating Council for the Protection of Children advising the Minister on child protection issues and chaired by the Director General of Social Welfare.
(b) Locally based Child Protection Teams throughout Malaysia consisting of a social welfare officer, a medical officer and a senior police officer.
(c) The mandatory duty of a medical personnel, family members and child care providers to report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect.

11. Cont..
(d) To Bring before a Court for Children within 24 hours any suspected case of child abuse and neglect taken into temporary custody
(e) The establishment of Courts for Children with the best interest of the child as the paramount consideration.
(f) Provision of psycho-social support to children and parents through interactive workshops.
(g) The separation of untried children from adults.

12. Children In Need of Care and Protection
The child who is physically injured or emotionally injured or sexually abused by his parent or guardian or member of his extended family.
(b) The parent or guardian of the child is unfit, or has neglected, or is unstable to exercise proper supervision and control over the child and the child is falling into bad association.
(c) The parent or guardian of the child has neglected or unwilling to provide him adequate care, food, clothing and shelter.

13. Cont.. (d) The child has no parents or guardian
(e) The child has been abandoned by his parent or guardian and after reasonable inquiries the parent of guardian cannot be found

14. Institutional Care and Protection of Children
There are various government and non government (NGOs) institution operating in the country with regards to children.
These institutions are administered by Federal government, State government and NGOs guided by relevant ordinance, rules and regulations.
There are administrative difference among these institutions based on power stipulated in the Rules.

15. Institution Administer by Department of Social Welfare (DSW)
The Federal run institution are under the administration of the DSW and known as Children’s Home.
Currently there are :
(i) Children’s Homes
(ii) Cottage System Children’s Homes (CSCH)- 8

16. Children’s Homes Administration : Objective :
To provide substitute care and protection that encourages the healthy growth and holistic development of dependent and needy children in a harmonious and safe environment.
Administration :
They are gazetted as Places of Safety under the Child Act 2001.
The Court for Children issues the order based on social report by the Protector
The duration of stay in the home is only for a certain period of time

17. The Children Admitted To The Homes :
Who are orphans;
Whose parents are sick or hospitalizes;
Who are neglected or abandoned;
Who are ill-treated; of detainees and prisoners;
Who are received under Court Orders under the Child Act 2001.

18. Services Provided In The Home
Care and protection
Guidance and counseling
Academic education
Religious/moral education
Vocational training
Sports and recreation
Discipline and privileges
Extra curricula activities include;
(Sports, study visit, uniform club, recreation and religious classes)
Facilities :
hostels, musalla, library, computer lab and quarters for staff

19. Concept of the Home/institution:
The emphasis is on providing proper care in an environment similar to that found in a normal home to ensure their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual growth and development.
Fully funded by the government
Children of school going age go to normal schools in the area and tuition classes organized in the Homes.
For over-aged children, the Homes run special classes to teach them basic reading, mathematic and vocational training to equip them with basic skills to help them to secure jobs after their release.
(Cooking, sewing and making handicrafts)

20. The Board members are to meet at least once every two months.
The Board of Visitors
Appointment by the Minister of Women, Family and Community Development.
The Board members are to meet at least once every two months.
Their responsibilities are to protect the interest and welfare of the child in the place of safety, supervise the overall level of development of the child and supervise the management of the place of safety to be in line with the regulation.

21. Cont …
The Board also assists the Director General of Social Welfare in matters pertaining to :
(a) the placement of the child with fit person
(b) the supervision of the welfare of the child placed with fit person
(c) the placement of the child in the appropriate training, programme or skill development or
(d) the supervision of the development of the child undergoing the training, programme or skill development.
- Establish an Amenities Fund into which shall be paid all money received by the place of safety.

22. Children’s Homes
Currently provides care and protection for 1065 children in nine(9) Children’s Homes
- For boys below 12 years old they are sent to Children’s Homes first and transferred either to the Boys Home or to the NSDC when they reach 12 years old
Children’s Homes
Criteria
7 homes
For boys until the age of 12 years and girls until thr age of 18 years
1 home
(Boys home)
For boys between 12 to 18 years who attend academic school
For boys attending vocational training
( The National Skill Development Centre (NSDC)

23. Cont … The capacity of each Home is 100 and the staff strength is 50
Administrative Staff ;
* Principal ( Head)
* Deputy principal
* Social welfare assistant
* Counselor
* Religious officer
* Hostel supervisor
* Teacher ( from education Ministry)
* Attendants

24. CHILDREN’S HOMES
Hostel
Admin Office
Hall

25. Pictures
Sewing
Activities
Cooking
Library

26. Todler’s room
Staff quarters
Dining room
Hostel

27. Pictures
Musalla
Computer lab
Meeting room
Field

28. The Cottage System Children’s Home
Concept :
- Provide proper care, protection, love and family environment for children who are unable to stay with their own natural families due to unavoidable circumstances.
Place them in group of 8-10 in specially built homes instead of in institution under the care of married couples specially selected from the community to act as their foster parents.
It is a smart partnership project between the DSW and corporate bodies.

29. Cont ..
The first Cottage System Children’s Home was built in Kuala Selangor in 1988 with sponsorship by Amway (M) Sdn Bhd on 12 acre piece of land provided by the Selangor state Government.
Currently there are eight such homes giving care to 200 children.
Finance - the government provides a grant for the basic needs of the children and the allowances of the foster mother and the board of Management is empowered to organize fund-raising activities for the homes.

30. Cont … Criteria for Foster Parents :
Married couples aged between years;
Married couples with no children or having only two children staying with them;
Married couples who are able to provide love and affection for the children;
The husband must be fully employed outside the Home and earn their own income;
The wives must be full-time housewives who are able to properly look after the children under their care.

31. Institution Administer by The State Government
The State Government also establishes and manages institutions for the care and protection of children.
Fund from the state government and work closely with the DSW.
Head by a principal and assisted by management and administration staff paid by the state government.
- The manner of admission is voluntary and priority is given to the orphans based on criteria set by the management.

32. Cont … Extra curricula activities include;
Service Provided :
- All children attend school and extra tutorial classes to prepare for their examinations;
Extra curricula activities include;
(Sports, study visit, uniform club, recreation and religious classes)
Facilities :
hostels, musalla, library, lab and quarters for staff.
Extra Finance :
Encourages donation from the public and private sectors which is managed by their Board of Directors.
Each child has a personal bank account which to the child when they leave the institution.

33. Pictures
Facilities
Activities
Library
Class room

34. Pictures
Mosque
Activities
Hostel

35. Institution Administer by NGO
- Out of 33,000 registered NGOs in Malaysia there are about 3,000 working with welfare related issues and almost 100 NGOs work with children.
Government grants for registered NGOs :
Administrative grants;
Maintenance grants;
Per capita grant; and
Grant for programmes and activities for relevant target groups.

36. Cont …
Currently there are 43 NGOs institution/homes for the children /orphans registered with PEYATIM ( Malaysia Association for the Orphans).
The institution get annual monetary grant from the DSW.
Almost are for Muslim children but there are also other orphanages run by various religious organizations throughout the country.
Admission is on a voluntary basis and priority is given to the orphans.

37. Cont … NGOs institution also provided the best interest for child;
Compulsory for children to attend school
Extra activities ( sport, visit study and recreation)
They also manages donation from public and provided children their own personal bank account and when they reach 18 years old all the money is given to them.

38. Pictures
Eating
Assembly
Praying

39. Conclusion
Department of Social Welfare has undergone a reorganization which aims to establish a more professional and efficient structure.
To extend care, protection and rehabilitation service to children.
The staff those working with children have the necessary information, knowledge, skill, motivation, authority and resources.
The best interest for the child

40. Thank You