"Child Exploitation: Two Cases Reported"

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Two child exploitation cases involving four child beggars were reported following a joint effort by the Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the North-South Expressway Project (Plus) to curb such activities, the house of representatives was told on Thursday. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKK) Minister Heng Seai Kei said the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) has also asked state religious authorities to take integrated action to arrest individuals involved in child exploitation. "The ministry views cases regarding child exploitation, through begging or collecting funds using the name of institutions or orphanages, as serious. "Therefore, the JKM conducts operations periodically to rescue children who have been used to collect donations and ask for money in public areas," she said in reply to a question from Matulidi Jusoh (BN-Dungun) who wanted to know how exploitation of orphans and tahfiz centres were dealt with. Heng said on Aug 2, the ministry held talks with the Royal Malaysia Police, Jakim, Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) and JKM to carry out the integrated operations. Meanwhile, Heng added that cooperation from all quarters was necessary to tackle child exploitation, which includes using the Nur 15999 hotline for the ministry to handle the cases further. -- BERNAMA