KOTA BARU: A total of 217 abuse cases involving children at childcare centres were recorded nationwide last year.
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff said the figure was recorded between January to December last year by the Welfare Department.
She said all 217 abuse cases involved children who were under the care of childminders.
"During the same period, 51 childcare centres had their licences revoked and another 19 centres were issued with verbal warnings.
"Four other childcare centres were compounded for breaching regulations. None of the operators was charged in court last year," she said.
Siti Zailah said this when launching health and security training for childcare centre operators here today.
More than 90 operators from Kota Baru and Pasir Mas attended the programme.
Also present were State Welfare, Family and Women Development committee chairman Datuk Mumtaz Md Nawi and state Welfare director Said Sidup.
On the programme, Siti Zailah said Kelantan was the first state to organise the programme this year.
"I hope in attending this course, the security and health aspects at the childcare centres in the country can improve.
"I also would like to remind childcare centre operators to only hire workers who are criminal activity free.
"They can check their backgrounds first before hiring them to work at the centres. This is to prevent untoward incidents such as children being abused by the caretakers," she added.