KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has ordered the nursery in Batu Gajah, Perak, where a four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by her babysitter’s son, to shut down.
Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister said checks revealed that the centre was not registered with the Welfare Department.
"I was made to understand that the nursery is taking care of eight children. According to the department's regulation, nurseries that take care of more than four children should register with the department."
Dr Wan Azizah said officers from the Welfare Department had been sent to the nursery to look at how best to look after the victim, and the rest of the children affected by the closure.
"We have to look at the overall picture. We will also identify other unregistered nurseries so that such an incident will not repeat. All nurseries should be registered with the Welfare Department,” she said when met by reporters at Parliament today.
Batu Gajah Police chief ACP Ahmad Adnan Basri said the 12-year-old boy had admitted to committing the offence when questioned by the police, after the victim’s mother lodged a report on the advice of the doctor who found a broken hymen and other tears on the girl's private parts.
He confessed to committing the offence against the underage child three times since May, after being influenced by soft porn videos on his mobile phone.
The boy has been detained and investigation by the police is ongoing.
Commenting on mobile phone usage by children, Dr Wan Azizah stressed on the importance of parental guidance.
"This is one of the negative effects of the Internet.
"Parents should monitor their children’s mobile phone usage at all times,”she added.