KUCHING: The Social Welfare Department is scrutinising a list of individuals to take care of the younger brother of Zayn Rayyan Abdul Matiin.
Women, Family, and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said after the ministry had vetted through the list of family members, a guardian for the child will be recommended to the court on Aug 9, which is when the boy's placement with the department ends.
"For the time being, the child is under the care of the Selangor Social Welfare Department. We leave it to the court to decide on the next steps, whether to entrust the child to suitable persons or to continue at the JKM institution," she told reporters after attending the Autism Empowerment Weekend held at Borneo Cultures Museum here.
A total of 800 children with autism participated in the two-day Let'z Play Therapy programme.
Yesterday, the Shah Alam magistrate's court placed the boy under the custody of the Selangor Social Welfare Department, under Section 25(2) of the Child Act 2001.
The department director Azmir Kassims said the boy will be under the department's care for two months while a suitable guardian is being sought.
Nancy said if the court decided to place the boy with a family member, the department would monitor the child and guardian to ensure they were compatible with each other.
"Although they are given absolute right to care for the child later, the department will still closely monitor to ensure they are compatible and can adjust.
"This is because it is understood that the child has speech issues that requires careful attention," she said.
On Thursday, the child's parents were charged at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court with child neglect.
Zaim Ikhwan Zahari and Ismanira Abdul Manaf, pleaded not guilty.