Women's ministry in talks with police to have access to sex offenders list

The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is in talks with the Royal Malaysian Police to be allowed to have access to the list of sex offenders, including those involved in child abuse or in accident cases.

Its Deputy Minister, Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said the access would allow the Welfare Department to cross-check names under the sex offenders list or those who had been blacklisted from setting up or working at any nursery.

"Those who used to be involved in accidents causing the death of children or in child abuse cases based on the police record, will be blacklisted from becoming nursery entrepreneurs or workers.

"This is to protect the children and their safety, besides enabling nursery owners to cross-check records of those who apply to work at their respective nurseries," she told reporters after officiating the Welfare Department's Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya-level 'Jom Daftar' campaign here today.

The campaign aimed to raise the number of registered nurseries with the Welfare Department; to provide better understanding among the participants on the importance of getting their nurseries registered; and to raise awareness on the safety aspects of children at nurseries.

Chew also said there are 938 nurseries which have yet to be registered under Welfare Department as of July, while 4,240 nurseries were registered.

Unregistered nurseries will face fines and they might be dragged to the court if there are no initiatives being done by the owners to register their nurseries, she added.