KUCHING, July 27 — The RM10 million allocation under Madani Economy to streamline registration and expand the childcare centre and nursery whitelisting programme in the country will expedite that process if it is used to cover the cost of field trips, said a Sarawak minister.
State Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said though she has not received details of the allocation, she hopes the allocation can be used to increase the number of field workers.
“The whitelisting process (for unregistered nurseries and childcare centres) takes time and involves many field trips and workers,” she told Bernama.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, when announcing the Madani Economy: Empowering the People initiative yesterday, said the government would facilitate the registration process and expand the childcare centre and nursery whitelisting programme nationwide with the RM10 million allocation.
Fatimah said the Sarawak government has also provided a special annual grant of RM5,000 to assist the operation of registered nurseries and childcare centres.
“One condition we have stipulated is they must be registered to enjoy the grant. If they are not registered, we cannot give the grant, which can ease their financial burden,” she said.
She also said her ministry has established a one-stop centre to facilitate childcare entrepreneurs to obtain complete information so their applications for registration are approved.
“We highlight aspects such as the screening of babysitters, educators and also security guards (in examining the application) of these (unregistered) nurseries and childcare centres,” she said.
— Bernama
