KUALA LUMPUR: The Senate wants more proactive measures by the government in addressing the issue of street children.
Senator Datuk Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif said there should be closer cooperation with other agencies under the National Blue Ocean Strategy, and that there should be more Welfare Department staff making rounds especially in the city centre at night, instead of waiting for reports from the public.
"Is the ministry planning to add more staff to look for the street children? If we wait for the public to alert us, then the problem will never be solved," he said at the Dewan Negara today.
Senator Shahanim Mohamad Yusoff said: "I came across woman with a child going around the restaurant where I was breaking my fast yesterday.
"Yes, looking at their condition, we would feel compelled to help and donate, but a more proactive measure is needed. Tourists will see this and think that there are so many poor (and neglected) people in Malaysia and this will cost the country its image."
Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun's reply of "scheduled joint operations to rescue the children and call for public information on syndicates" did not go down well with the senators, who pressed for more effective steps to be taken by the ministry.
Senator Tan Sri Dr Ibrahim Abu Shah then asked for statistics of children involved in begging and crime activities like gangsterism and drugs, as well as those who fell victims to paedophiles, to which Chew said it was under the jurisdiction of the police.
This prompted Dewan Negara President Datuk S.A. Vigneswaran to intervene.
"We know that the statistics is with the police, but who can we ask here (in parliament)? The ministry should have it," he said.