KUALA LUMPUR: An initial cognitive assessment of 385 children belonging to members of Global Ikhwan Services and Business Holdings (GISB) has revealed that 30 children (7.79 per cent) have severe cognitive disorders.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said of the total, 277 children (71.95 per cent) did not show any symptoms of any cognitive disorders.
"Meanwhile, 78 children or 20.26 per cent exhibited mild cognitive disorders," she said during the ministry's explanatory session on the GISB issue in the Dewan Rakyat today (Oct 15).
Nancy added that the cognitive assessment was conducted for children aged 7 and above. She also said the assessment was done following the establishment of the Children's Profiling Task Force under Operation Global by the Social Welfare Department after obtaining a temporary custody order for 558 children.
As of Oct 13, she added that the department found 46.1 per cent of children under the department's care recorded a normal body weight, 51.6 per cent of children were under the healthy BMI range, and 2.7 per cent were in the obesity category.
"Three of them hold persons with disabilities cards, while 27 other children show disability-related symptoms.
"At the same time, in terms of education, 56.3 per cent of them reported having attended school, whether in a government primary school, government religious school, religious school, or centres managed by those entities or where they reside."
Nancy said the ministry's end goal was for the children to return to their families, adding that various factors must be assessed and considered before this could be realised.
"A holistic approach is needed to ensure positive outcomes so that they can return to their families and be reintegrated into society after their care period and, if necessary, following rehabilitation. This is not to deny anyone's rights, but rather in the best interest of the children.
"Hence, the ministry has developed a comprehensive approach based on social work principles for these children, with specific planning in line with legal provisions covering various categories of children.
"The ministry is also working through a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, involving all parties to support the process of care, psychological recovery and trauma rehabilitation for these children," she said.
She added that it was also essential to ensure that the parents and families of the children could function effectively and provide a supportive and nurturing environment.
She added that for cases where the parents and families demonstrate clear capability, the process of unification could be expedited.
"For more complex cases, intervention programmes will be implemented for both the children and families to ensure their best interests are safeguarded.
"During this period, the ministry will ensure that all actions are carried out in line with the applicable laws and we are committed to upholding the rights of children, in line with the country's international obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)."