KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 209 children have been successfully placed under the care of foster families under the government's de-institutionalisation (DI) pilot project.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim said two villages in the Kuala Langat and Petaling districts were selected for the programme, which started in 2014.
“The villages were selected as they are located in both urban (Petaling) and rural (Kuala Langat) settings.
“It is part of our effort to de-institutionalise childcare which was also incorporated in the amended Child Act, passed by the Dewan Negara yesterday,” she said.
She said under the programme, potential foster families are screened before they are matched with the children.
"Sending unfortunate children to shelter homes is a last resort.
“We will compare and observe the children staying with their foster families with those in our 13 shelter homes. Our officers in the respective districts are assigned to monitor the children," she said after launching the Global Child Forum today.
On a different matter, she said the cabinet has approved a meeting for the South-South Cooperation for Child Rights in the Asia-Pacific region.
“The government approved the proposal yesterday. Malaysia will be the third country to host the high-level committee meeting after China and India,” she said.