GEORGE TOWN: An unlicensed childcare centre here has been ordered to stop its operations following the death of a two-year-old child at the centre yesterday.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environmental Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said a letter ordering the centre located in Paya Terubong to stop its operations had been handed to its owner.
"Our initial investigation found that the centre did not have a licence to set up the facility and a permit to run it," he said when contacted by Bernama today.
He said all day-care centres, kindergartens and nurseries should apply for a permit and licence from the Social Welfare Department, Education Department or local authorities.
"The Social Welfare Department is still investigating the centre and a full report will be ready by the end of this week," he said.
It is understood that the centre has been operating for more than 10 years at a rented two-storey terraced house.
In the incident, Stella Chew Xing Rou was found drowned inside a basin in a bathroom about 1pm after lunch while the other children were watching television.
Meanwhile, Timur Laut police deputy chief Supt Abdul Halim Bulat said the post-mortem report from Penang Hospital confirmed that the child's death was due to drowning.
He said police had recorded statements from the child's mother, Heng Bee Thin, 38, and staff of the centre. No arrest has been made.
The case is being investigated under Section 31 of the Child Act, which carries a fine of up to RM20,000 or a jail term of not more than 10 years, or both.
GEORGE TOWN: A two-year-old girl was found drowned in a tub in a bathroom of a nursery in Paya Terubong here.
The nursery teacher suddenly realised at 1pm that one child was missing from the group of pre-school children under her supervision.
She frantically searched the premises and, to her horror, found the child lying face down in a baby tub filled with water.
Distraught mum: Heng carrying her daughter away from the private clinic in Bandar Baru Ayer Itam Monday. — BernamaThe victim, Stella Chew Xing Rou, was rushed to a private clinic nearby Bandar Baru Air Itam where attempts to resuscitate her failed.
A relative who declined to be named said the girl's father, Chew Hock Huat, 42, from Relau, had dropped the girl off at the nursery about 8.30am yesterday.
“At about 1.50pm, Chew's father received a call from the nursery asking him to go to the clinic as something had happened to his daughter,” she said.
Upon reaching the clinic, he was in-formed by a nurse that his daughter had died.
The victim's mother, Heng Bee Thin, 38, was distraught when met by journalists at the clinic. Crying uncontrollably, she carried her daughter's body, and rushed into a nearby van.
The body was brought to the Penang Hospital for a post mortem.
Penang police chief Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob confirmed the incident, adding that the police were investigating if the nursery was licensed.
Warm Regard, Sara Pandian
1 comment:
i really don't understand the reporters, can't they give some respect to the victim and the family. Just trying to get the photo of the dead baby.
It is really sad. i have a 2 year old. and God knows how tragic would it be if anything were to happen to her...
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