Heavier penalty for child abandonment soon

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KUCHING: The penalty for child abandonment will be enhanced to deter parents from shirking their responsibility, says Women Development, Family and Community Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

She hoped that the amendment would be passed in the second reading of the Children’s Act (Amendment) 2015 in the Parliament next month.

The penalty is to be increased to a fine of not more than RM50,000 or jail of not more than 20 years or both, and mandatory community service order.

“Of late, there have been too many negligence cases that threaten the lives of children, and this amendment is important not to punish them, but to educate them so that they will be more responsible so that such cases do not happen,” she said this during a media briefing on the Children’s Act (Amendment) 2015 yesterday.

The fines hopefully would make parents more mindful of their children and curb cases of children being left behind for hours in stationary cars.

This was among the highlights of the several amendments to the act, and if passed, will help cases involving children.