KUCHING, July 9 2026: Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen’s special assistant Michael Kong has expressed his shock that a child day-care centre, which was ordered to cease operation last year, has continued to its daily business.
He said he came to know of this matter after a young couple’s three-month-old baby suffered a broken arm at a day care centre.
“It is an incident that no parent should ever have to endure, and my thoughts are with the family as they continue to care for their child during this difficult time,” he said in a statement after the couple came to see him today.
Kong said he understands that the individual who was caring for the baby at the time of the incident has since been charged under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act.
“As the matter is now before the courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the criminal proceedings.
“However, what is particularly worrying is the information disclosed by the Welfare Department that care centre had been instructed to cease operations since last year for failing to comply with licensing requirements, including those relating to the teacher-to-child ratio and the specifications of the premises.
“Despite this, it is alleged to have continued operating,” Kong said.
“If this is true, it raises serious concerns about compliance with regulations that exist to safeguard the welfare and safety of young children,” he said.
He said the licensing requirements imposed on child care centres are put in place to ensure that children are cared for in a safe environment, that there are sufficient qualified caregivers to supervise them, and that the premises meet the necessary safety standards.
He said these requirements are fundamental to protecting children, particularly infants who are unable to communicate or protect themselves.
“I, therefore, urge all child care operators to ensure that they comply fully with the law and maintain the standards required under the licensing framework,”he said, adding that safety and well-being of children must always take precedence over all other considerations.
He said he will be assisting the parents in liaising with the Welfare Department to ensure that the necessary follow-up action is taken and that the operator complies with all legal and licensing requirements.
He said it is important that any child care centre operating in our community is properly licensed and meets the standards prescribed by law.
“I also encourage parents to verify that a day care centre is duly registered and licensed before enrolling their children,” he said, adding that while no parent expects such an incident to occur, taking this simple step can provide greater assurance that the childcare centre has met the minimum standards required by the authorities.
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