Latest news with #JKM
Rakyat Post
2 hours ago
- Rakyat Post
JKM Rescues 20 Kids From ‘'Dirty'' Penang Warehouse Centre
Subscribe to our FREE The Penang State Welfare Department (JKM) rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, from a warehouse and house in Bukit Mertajam on 21 July. A 20-year-old mother, believed to be the biological mother of the baby girl, was also rescued. JKM and the police raided the premises after receiving several reports about suspicious activities in the area. According to The children, 10 boys and 10 girls aged between 15 days and 16 years old, were believed to have been deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing, and safe shelter. The children were left in unsanitary environments. Image: Opalyn Mok/Malay Mail State social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the children and the woman were believed to be of various nationalities. Lim added the children could converse in Mandarin but possessed limited proficiency in the Malay language. Preliminary investigations revealed that 12 children including the baby do not have birth certificates. However, six had valid documents but do not have parents or guardians. Meanwhile, two were handed over to relatives as their legal guardians. The children have been placed in designated safe places after the Bukit Mertajam Court approved temporary custody orders to allow JKM to take the children under its wing. They were also given health checks at the Seberang Jaya Hospital and met with JKM psychologists. As a result of the raid, five local adults were detained and suspected of acting as guardians of the place. State social development, welfare and non-Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim (centre) showing photos of the warehouse conditions. Image: Opalyn Mok/Malay Mail Lim shared the office received public complaints since last year but did not find children there during initial checks. JKM had to continuously monitor the premises before taking further action. They observed groups of children entering and leaving the warehouse under suspicious circumstances. The case is still under investigation with a special task force set up to coordinate documentation procedures and to investigate each child's background. The public is advised not to speculate on the case or it'll jeopardise ongoing investigations. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Malay Mail
9 hours ago
- Malay Mail
No crime found in case of 20 children rescued from Penang warehouse, police say
GEORGE TOWN, July 29 — Police investigations have found no criminal elements, including human trafficking or abuse, in the case involving 20 children who were rescued from a warehouse in Bukit Mertajam last week. Acting Penang Police Chief Datuk Mohd Alwi Zainal Abidin confirmed today that the case has been handed over to the Penang Welfare Department (JKM) for further action. 'We have recorded statements from all the children, including the mother of the baby,' he said when contacted by the media. 'After we carried out further investigations, no criminal elements were detected. We did not find elements of abuse, human trafficking, or other crimes.' The case drew public attention after a joint special operation by JKM and the police on July 21 rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, from what were described as squalid conditions in a warehouse and an adjacent house used as an unregistered learning centre. The children, aged between 15 days and 16 years, consisted of 10 boys and 10 girls. Yesterday, state Social Development, Welfare, and Non-Islamic Religious Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim told a press conference that some of the children did not have legal guardians and were believed to be deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing, and safe shelter. She said that 12, including the baby, also did not have birth certificates. Six had identification documents and known family members, and two have since been handed over to close relatives.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Free Malaysia Today
20 children, including 15-day-old baby, rescued from unlicensed centre
State exco member Lim Siew Khim said five adults believed to be the caretakers were also found at the premises in Bukit Mertajam. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Twenty children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, were rescued from a warehouse and a house operating as an unregistered learning centre in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, last week. Penang social development and welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the rescue operation was carried out by the social welfare department (JKM) with the cooperation of the police, following public complaints. 'Those rescued were aged between 15 days and 16 years, comprising 10 boys and 10 girls. 'Initial investigations revealed that 12 children, including the baby, did not have birth certificates. 'Six had valid documents but no parents or guardians, while two have since been placed in the care of close family members,' Lim told a press conference in George Town today. She was quoted by Kosmo as saying a 20-year-old woman, believed to be the biological mother of the baby, was also 'rescued' during the operation. All those rescued are believed to be of various nationalities and primarily spoke Mandarin, with limited proficiency in Malay. Lim said the children are believed to have been deprived of basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing and safe shelter. 'The warehouse was in a filthy condition and completely unsuitable for habitation, especially by children. 'It was neither a care home nor a registered learning centre. Children should not have been there,' she said. During the raid, five adults believed to be acting as caretakers were also found on the premises. They were local individuals, aged over 18, and are currently being investigated by the police. 'Health screenings have also been conducted at Seberang Jaya Hospital with the involvement of JKM psychological officers,' Lim said, adding that a temporary custody order for the children had been granted by the court. Lim said her office had received several public complaints since the end of last year about the centre. However, earlier inspections at the address found no children present.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Penang welfare dept rescues 20 children in ops abai raid
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Welfare Department (JKM) has rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby, during a special operation named Ops Abai. The raid took place simultaneously at two locations in Bukit Mertajam on July 21. State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the operation was conducted with the Royal Malaysia Police. Ten boys and ten girls were rescued from a warehouse in an industrial area and a house used as an unregistered learning centre. 'The children rescued are between 15 days and 16 years old, and the infant was found with her biological mother,' Lim said. Investigations revealed that 12 children, including the baby, had no birth certificates. Six had valid identification documents, while two were handed over to their closest guardians. Some children lacked legal guardians and were believed to be deprived of basic necessities like food, clothing, and safe shelter. 'The children have been categorised as needing care and protection under Section 17 of the Child Act 2001,' Lim added during a press conference attended by Penang JKM director Rozita Ibrahim. The operation followed months of monitoring after public complaints last year about children frequently seen entering and exiting the raided premises. Lim, who joined the operation, described the locations as extremely dirty and unsuitable for children. Five adults, believed to be caretakers, were also found and handed to police. The children, speaking Mandarin with limited Malay, are of various nationalities. Some are Malaysian, while others' identities are being verified. All rescued children were placed in government-gazetted safe locations under a Temporary Custody Order from the Bukit Mertajam Magistrate's Court. They were first taken to Seberang Jaya Hospital for health checks. A Special Task Force has been formed to handle documentation and background checks for each child, supported by JKM's strategic partners. Police investigations are ongoing, and the public is urged not to spread unverified information. - Bernama
Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Penang welfare department rescues 20 children, including baby, from shady warehouse ‘centre'
GEORGE TOWN, July 28 — The Penang State Welfare Department (JKM) rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, in a special operation at a warehouse and house in Bukit Mertajam last week. JKM, together with the police, raided the premises, believed to have been turned into an unregistered learning centre, after receiving public complaints about suspicious activities. State social development, welfare and non-islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said that after monitoring the premises, JKM observed groups of children entering and leaving the warehouse under suspicious circumstances. The special operation on July 21 found that the children kept at the premises were believed to be deprived of basic needs such as food, clothing, and safe shelter. The warehouse in Bukit Mertajam where the children were rescued. — Picture by Opalyn Mok 'A 20-year-old woman, believed to be the biological mother of the baby girl, was also rescued in the operation,' she said in a press conference today. Lim said the children and woman rescued were believed to be of various nationalities. She said some could converse in Mandarin but had limited proficiency in the Malay language. The rescued children were aged between 15 days and 16 years, and consisted of 10 boys and 10 girls. 'Preliminary investigations revealed that 12 children including the baby do not have birth certificates, six had valid documents but do not have parents or guardians, and two have been handed over to relatives as their legal guardians,' she said. She said the condition of the warehouse was unhygienic and unsuitable for living, especially for children. 'The place is not a care home or an educational centre, children should not be living there,' she said. Lim said five local adults, suspected of acting as guardians of the place, were detained during the raid and are now under police investigation. 'My office had received public complaints since last year but during initial visits and inspections, we did not find any children there,' she said. She said JKM had to continuously monitor the premises before taking further action. The rescued children have been placed in designated safe places after the Bukit Mertajam Court approved temporary custody orders allowing JKM to take the children under its care. 'Health screenings were also conducted at Seberang Jaya Hospital with the involvement of JKM psychologists,' she said. Meanwhile, she said a special task force was set up to coordinate documentation procedures and to investigate the background of each child. 'We are also investigating whether there are elements of neglect that could lead to abuse,' she said. She said each step taken will be in the best interest of the children. As the police are also investigating the matter, Lim urged the public not to speculate on the case.
