A TOTAL of 153 taska (nurseries) have registered under the Penang Social Welfare Department (JKM) as of Aug 31 this year, with information on their locations now available through the newly launched TASKA@Penang website.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the website was developed to make it easier for parents to obtain information on registered taska in Penang before deciding on a childcare centre for their children.
“The website provides information such as the type of taska, its registration status under JKM, operator details, registration validity period and location,” she said during a media conference to launch the TASKA@Penang website today.
She said parents could also search for registered taska based on a radius from their home address and obtain directions to the selected centre through a Google Maps link.
The website is a collaborative initiative involving the Penang Geospatial Information Management Unit (PeGIS), Penang Women’s Development Corporation (PWDC) and JKM Penang.
Lim said the website would not only benefit parents but also help taska operators view the existing distribution of registered centres before deciding on locations for their operations.
“We want parents to have an easy and convenient channel to check the registration status of a taska before making a choice for their children,” she said.
Lim said the state government is also working to help more taska (nurseries), tadika (kindergartens) and care centres (TTPJ) complete their registration and regularisation processes.
She said the state government has introduced an incentive programme for TTPJ operators, which runs from March 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
Among the incentives offered are exemptions or discounts on processing fees, exemptions from certain penalties and flexibility in meeting certain technical requirements.
“To date, 22 TTPJ have obtained valid certification from the Education Department (JPN) and JKM, comprising seven tadika, 10 taska and five care centres,” she said.
However, Lim said 69 tadika and 11 care centres have yet to come forward for consultation sessions.
She said JKM and JPN would organise engagement sessions with the operators concerned to identify the problems they faced and assist them in proceeding with the regularisation process.
“I urge operators who have yet to register or attend a consultation session to come forward and discuss their concerns with the relevant agencies.
“The incentive programme will remain available until Feb 28, 2027, and we hope as many operators as possible will take advantage of it,” she said.
Lim also expressed hope that the TASKA@Penang website would serve as a useful reference for parents to check registered taska and obtain reliable information before making their choice.
She thanked and congratulated PeGIS, PWDC, JKM, JPN, the local authorities and all parties involved in developing the website.
Also present were Penang Women’s Development Corporation chief executive officer Datuk Ong Bee Leng, State Information and Communications Technology Division’s Planning, Application Development and Geospatial Section (PPAG) chief assistant secretary Siti Mazrishah Mohamed Ibramsah, Geospatial Information Management Unit (Pegis) senior assistant secretary Nur Asyikin Ramli, JKM community development officer Ais Najihah Mohamad, and JKM assistant officer Nor Azimah Wan Teh.
Story and pix by K.H. Ong