Kindergarten and daycare centres in Pasir Gudang will soon be required to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras by next year. Pasir Gudang mayor Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman stated that the city council is currently in the process of drafting the necessary paperwork for this policy and plans to present it in December. Asman Shah explained that this requirement is aligned with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s call for mandatory CCTV installation when renewing childcare centre licenses. The initiative was also prompted by a child abuse case in Bandar Layangkasa that took place in August, necessitating proactive action.
Asman Shah mentioned that a town hall session would be organized in December and January for all kindergarten and daycare centre operators, as well as relevant stakeholders, once the paperwork is complete. Additionally, the Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG) is currently investigating illegal facilities to ensure compliance with regulations. The council will record relevant data such as the number of caretakers and children at these centres. Temporary licenses will be issued to operators, enabling them to operate while they install CCTV systems on their premises. All collected information will be stored in a database to facilitate immediate action.
Furthermore, Asman Shah revealed that MBPG plans to install 340 CCTV poles in public areas throughout Pasir Gudang, with the installation starting in December. The goal is to have all poles operational by June of next year. This comprehensive CCTV network is intended to enhance overall surveillance and safety in the city.
In August, Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had expressed the ministry’s consideration to make CCTV installation a mandatory condition for renewing childcare centre licenses. She emphasized the need to combat child abuse cases in these facilities, despite existing regulations under the Child Care Centre Act 1984 and the Child Care Centre Regulations 2012 that already required CCTV installation. On August 12, two women were arrested by the police following a child abuse incident involving a seven-year-old boy in Bandar Layangkasa.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
