Melaka State Govt To Promptly Initiate Legalisation Process For Taska - Exco

ALOR GAJAH, Sept 7 (Bernama) -- The Melaka state government will promptly initiate the legalisation process for childcare centres (Taska) operating in the state to prevent further infant deaths in such facilities, said Datuk Kalsom Noordin, the state Executive Councillor for Women's Affairs, Family Development, and Welfare.

In response to the death of an eight-month-old baby at a childcare centre yesterday, she emphasised that the process will focus on licensing, safety, and the backgrounds of caregivers, highlighting the need for immediate action since this is not the first such incident in the state.

"Many caregiving practices also need to be re-evaluated, including swaddling infants for sleep, which poses a danger to them," she told reporters after visiting Major Mohd Fikry Amri Abd Halim, 39, and Sabrina Hakiem Zaini, who lost their baby boy, Muhammad Al Fateh Amri, at their home in Taman Kelemak Utama today.

Kalsom noted that Melaka has 137 registered Taska, with the highest number—101—located in Melaka Tengah, serving over 20,000 children. Jasin has 19 centres catering to 300 children, while Alor Gajah has 17 centers serving 380 children.

She then said the Melaka Social Welfare Department has confirmed that the Taska in Taman Kelemak Utama is not registered and its Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department approval for safety measures is still pending.

"However, it has already received support from other agencies such as the Alor Gajah Municipal Council and the Health Office. Following yesterday's incident, two officers from the Department of Social Welfare conducted inspections at the premises, accompanied by a police forensic team at 3.30 pm," she said.

"We have never received any complaints about this centre, which had 10 children registered, including the victim who passed away yesterday," she explained, adding that enforcement actions, including closure, were carried out under the provisions of the Child Care Centre Act 1984 (Act 308).

Yesterday, the media reported that the couple's baby was found unconscious, with a bluish complexion and a bloody nose at the Taska. The child was then pronounced dead at the Alor Gajah Hospital. 

A woman who worked as a caregiver at the centre was remanded for seven days to assist in the investigation under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

-- BERNAMA