MELAKA: The Melaka Social Welfare Department (JKM) has confirmed the closure of a childcare centre in Taman Kelemak Utama, Alor Gajah, following the tragic death of an eight-month-old baby boy last Friday.
In a statement today, JKM director Halyjah Muhammad said the centre was ordered to close as of 5pm yesterday.
She said a closure notice, signed by the operator, was displayed at the entrance of the premises.
The media previously reported that the centre was not registered with JKM, despite receiving support from agencies like the Alor Gajah Municipal Council and the Health Office.
The baby's father, Major Mohd Fikry Amri Abd Halim, 39, alleged that CCTV footage showed a babysitter forcefully feeding his baby, covering him with a cloth, and smothering him with a pillow.
A 34-year-old caregiver from the centre has been remanded for seven days as investigations proceed under Section 302 of the Penal Code.
Halyjah revealed that since August, action had been taken against 27 unregistered childcare centres in Melaka.
Nine have been ordered to close, eight were issued compounds, and one is facing court action.
"JKM has formed a task force to legalise unregistered centres and is working with the Nurseries Association to ensure swift registration," she added.
Parents are urged to send their children to registered nurseries to avoid similar tragedies.
Currently, Melaka has 137 registered centres in Melaka Tengah, 101 in Alor Gajah, and 19 in Jasin, serving over 20,000 children.
Monitoring of these centres is ongoing, and a list of registered facilities is available on the JKM portal at www.jkm.my. — BERNAMA