You have power to recruit more child protection officers, MP reminds Rina

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun should recruit more child protection officers under the Social Welfare Department rather than lamenting about the lack of resources.

In making the call, Batu Kawan MP Kasthuri Patto reminded Rina of her role to raise the matter in the cabinet and push for an urgent increase of officers dedicated to children, including victims of abuse and neglect.

“In January last year, Rina stated that 224 child protection officers and moral officers have been approved by the government, which is the first phase of the recruitment of 1,122 workers.

“The ministry had 264 officers at that time. What did you do in the 20 months after the announcement?” asked Kasthuri (above) in a statement.

She pointed out that the lack of manpower was identified by Pakatan Harapan during its 22-month stint in Putrajaya with a recruitment plan in place, which was not pursued by the subsequent governments.

Kasthuri also noted that Rina’s statement was only made after the last reported incident of child abuse involving an eight-year-old boy in Taman Cahaya, Ampang, as well as his six-year-old sibling, allegedly at the hands of their aunt and uncle.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Mohd Harun

“Would she have made the call for more child protection officers had she not been in the presence of these two little victims of abuse?” Kasthuri further asked.

As a long-term solution, the DAP MP called on the government to table a Social Workers Profession Bill in the next Dewan Rakyat sitting, aside from working towards establishing a dedicated Children’s Ministry or a separate department under the current women’s ministry.

“As a minister in the cabinet, Rina need not lament on social media for brownie points on what she ought to do instead of actually rolling up her sleeves and doing it.

“Just get it done, Rina. You have the power to do so,” she stressed. = Mkini