Kedah ‘orphanage’ denies sending kids on begging spree

Four administrators of the Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cahaya Amal Bestari make an emotional plea to the public after the centre was shut down by authorities, in this screenshot from a video posted on Facebook.

SUNGAI PETANI: An orphanage in Kedah is considering legal action against the state government over a claim that it is using 200 children under its care to solicit donations from the public.

Pusat Jagaan Kanak-Kanak Cahaya Amal Bestari in Sungai Petani says the claim by the authorities that the orphanage is illegal is “false”, adding that it has already applied to the relevant bodies including the Sungai Petani Municipal Council as well as state Islamic and welfare departments.

“How can you say we are exploiting children when we are merely taking care of the orphaned and the children of those who are destitute? We are even sending them to primary school.

“The donations are to sustain themselves and their fellow housemates,” the centre’s spokesman Azfar Kamaruddin told FMT.

The centre operates on a row of 14 shophouses in Taman Pekan Baru.

It was ordered to vacate the premises under Section 16A of the Care Centres Act 1993. The authorities said it was not registered under the Kedah Islamic Religious Department or the Welfare Department.

A video clip showing children in tears as they boarded a van to leave the centre drew public sympathy.

But the Kedah government said the centre was exploiting the children.

Ismail Salleh, the exco in charge of Islamic affairs, said only 11 were orphans while the rest live with their parents.

He said 109 children were returned to their parents, while the 11 orphans are now under the custody of the Welfare Department.

Ismail said the centre had been operating since 2005 and has had its name changed many times.

It also operated out of Alor Setar and Simpang Empat before moving to Sungai Petani in 2016.

“Their modus operandi is to use children to get public sympathy to donate or buy products from them.

“Even I was approached twice by these children. When I told them what they were doing was not right, they told me they are ‘entrepreneurs’. This was the same script used over and over again.

“These children were also able to counter many arguments when cornered. They are well trained,” Ismail told reporters on Saturday.

He said the children sold creams, honey and other items to earn “pocket money”.

Ismail said the centre also violated the Child Act 2001. - FMT