2007 05: Parents face harsher penalties

The Star online. News. Nation. Sunday May 13, 2007

By YONG AI WEN

KUALA LUMPUR: Like kids who are afraid of being caned, parents who neglect their children will be disciplined with harsher punishment.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum proposed to increase punishment for parents under the Child Act, 2001.

Currently, Section 33 of the Act carries a fine of up to RM5,000, a two-year jail sentence or both for anyone who fails to properly supervise their children.

“We have numerous missing child cases. The public who sympathised with the parents failed to see the mistakes the parents made in the first place.

“If the parents care about their kids, why do they fail to keep an eye on them?

“Parents who have failed in their responsibilities must be brought before the law,” he said when launching Informasi Polis (Police Information), a new programme dedicated to raising public awareness on crime and educating viewers on how to prevent it.

Since 2004, about 1,900 children have been reported missing but the numbers could be higher.
“These are the numbers we gather from police reports. There may be some who do not report missing children to the police.

“We hope to elaborate on the severity of the punishments according to the offences committed and include punishment for offences committed by the children like playing truant,” said Johari.
The Mandarin programme, a joint effort by police and Astro, will be aired every Sunday at 5.30pm starting from today on Astro AEC (Channel 19).