KUALA LUMPUR: A registry for those who commit offences against children will be set up under the amendments of the Child Act 2001.
Women, Family and Community Development Ministry policy division under-secretary Dr Waitchalla R. R. V. Suppiah said the list, to be supervised by the Welfare Department, will have details of paedophiles and convicts of various offences including rape.
"Employers may refer to the list before hiring prospective staff, for instance, those running a nursery.
"We will know if the person if found to have a clean record without having any offences against children," she told a media briefing at the National Social Institute, here.
She said members of the public will also be able to check with the department if they have any suspicions over some individuals on social media in order to protect them from pedophiles.
Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said the briefing was to gather feedback from media practitioners after an engagement process with various parties including parents, teachers, non-governmental organisations and even children.
"The amendments, which cover about 60 to 70 per cent, were tabled for the first reading on Dec 2 and we hope to table and debate in the next session in March," said Rohani.
If passed by Parliament, the Act will see a hefty fine of up to RM50,000 and a prison sentence of 20 years meted out to those found guilty of child abuse.
Under the present Act, child abuse is punishable with a fine of no more than RM10,000 and imprisonment of up to 10 years.
The amendments also include provisions for Community Service Order (CSO) for those found guilty of abuse, neglect and abandonment of children as well as those leaving a child without appropriate supervision.
The amendment included a section dealing with the establishment of a National Council for Children to advise and make recommendations to the government on issues relating to the care, protection, rehabilitation, development and participation of children at the national, regional and international levels.
The council's role include developing programmes and strategies to educate society on the rights and dignity of children.