Confusion over ‘gentle reminder’

It's illegal under the Children Act 1974 to send out student members of uniformed bodies to solicit for donations in public places.

KUCHING: Reputed uniformed bodies who send out their student members to solicit donations in public places in Sarawak were taken aback today by a reminder that such acts contravened the Children Act 1974.

State Welfare Women and Family Development Minister Fatimah Abdullah sent shock waves through the uniformed corp with her reported reminder that stationing students members in public places to solicit donations was illegal.

It is a common to see uniformed groups from the Malaysian Red Cresent Society, St Johns and even the Scouts and Girl Guides seeking donations for some project or other throughout the year.

A puzzled MRCS was the first to react. A delegation comprising members from its Stampin and Kuching Chapters, led by its chairman Chang Choon Chiang,  will seek a clarification from Fatimah tommorow.

MRCS is one of the most active uniformed bodies which regularly sends out its young members to collect donations from the public.

A MRCS Stampin spokesman who declined to be named said the meeting is to seek an explanation from Fatimah as her latest comment had confused these well known bodies.

The spokesperson said Fatimah’s statement came as a surprise as most active uniformed volunteer bodies in the state usually send a written request to the authorities informing them of  such activities.
Fatimah had yesterday reminded NGOs to stop sending out children to solicit donations.

She said such actions were in violation of the Childrens Act 2001.

“We will write to them to give them a gentle reminder about the provisions of the Children Act 2001 after the Hari Raya holidays,” Fatimah had said.

Fatimah was responding to a public query about students from a uniformed body being spotted in public places in the city soliciting donations in recent days.

Several members of the public were uncertain whether it was acceptable for the uniformed bodies to employ students in seeking donations in public places.

In addition, Fatimah said schools were also prohibited in asking their students to request for donations from the public, following a directive from the Ministry of Education to protect children from exploitation.

Last month, the minister, assisted by some relevant agencies, ‘rescued’ some children from a private welfare institution who were employed to ask for donations in public places.