KULAI: Johor Welfare Department enforcement officers rescued 55 children from a private orphanage and care centre in Taman Mas here, on Dec 9.
State Women, Family, and Community Development committee chairman Khairin-Nisa Ismail confirmed that the children were relocated after a temporary closure order was issued under Section 15 of the Care Centres Act 1993 (Act 506).
She said that an investigation by the Welfare Department revealed 55 children were residing at the facility.
"Of these, 32 children were reunited with their biological parents the following day, while the remaining 23 (10 boys and 13 girls) were moved to a safe house," she told the New Straits Times today.
On Dec 11, the rescued children were presented before the Children's Court, which issued a Temporary Placement Order under Section 19(2) of the Child Act 2001.
The children will remain in designated safe houses under the care of the Welfare Department as the court proceedings against the caretaker continue.
Khairin-Nisa said child abuse cases needed to be addressed urgently.
The Welfare Department enforcement officers had thoroughly conducted investigations and established that conditions and licensing requirements set by the department under the Care Centres Act 1993, were violated.
Under the act, charity homes or care centres must guarantee the safety, dignity, and well-being of its residents. If any of the regulations are breached, the operation may be suspended or its licence revoked.
The act also required all charity homes to register with the department and have adequate and qualified staffing.
Khairin-Nisa said that the children under their care were monitored closely by the state Health Department, while the state Education Department would help out with their education needs.
"We are in close cooperation with the agencies and police, to resolve this issue immediately and ensure the children will receive the care and support needed," she said.
The home caretaker, who is also chairman of the orphanage, was arrested on Nov 30, after allegations of raping and impregnating a minor, now 17, residing in the home between 2020 and 2022, surfaced.
The 59-year-old man was rearrested on Dec 10, for allegedly caning a girl, after close-circuit television footage of the alleged abuse surfaced days later.
He was charged with two counts of rape involving a 17-year-old resident and for abusing a minor, to which he pleaded not guilty at the Johor Baru Sessions Court on Dec 15.