By Danial Dzulkifly
SHAH ALAM, July 22 — The Selangor administration will convene with stakeholders next month to discuss unified safety standards for childcare centres.
State executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari said participants of the August 8 meeting will consider drafting a state law on childcare centre safety standards.
The meeting will include Selangor Legal Adviser Offices and the state’s 12 local councils.
“The aim is to create a legal framework that ensures safe and reliable childcare support, in line with the First Selangor Plan (RS-1).
“However, regulatory challenges exist, including the need for a standardised enactment and safety regulations. We also need to identify a legal body to govern implementation and enforcement.
“The state’s Social Welfare Department cannot take on this role due to federal responsibilities, but the August 8 meeting will focus on discussing these issues and seeking legal advice,” she told Selangor Journal recently.
[caption id="attachment_364306" align="aligncenter" width="1024"]
State executive councillor for women empowerment and welfare Anfaal Saari speaks at the closing ceremony of the Children's Protection Team and Children's Welfare Team conference at Geno Hotel, Subang Jaya, on July 17, 2024. — Picture by NUR ADIBAH AHMAD IZAM/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Anfaal said follow-up talks will be held to identify an agency to regulate childcare centres.
She added that Selangor views the matter seriously, as 80 per cent of safety issues in childcare centres occurred on unregistered premises.
Previously, Anfaal said the state was “whitelisting” illegal centres by, among others, offering grants to operators to follow safety standards set by local councils.
On July 10, she announced a one-off aid from the state government for prospective nursery and kindergarten operators struggling to obtain registration and approval from authorities.
She said the initiative, outlined in the RS-1, aims to encourage the establishment of more preschools in high-demand and critical-need areas.
