THE Penang government has introduced a series of incentives to encourage operators of nurseries, kindergartens and care centres to register their premises, while strengthening oversight to ensure the safety and welfare of children and other vulnerable groups.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the initiative aims to facilitate the registration process, reduce financial burdens on operators and promote compliance with safety and operational standards.
At a press conference at Komtar today, Lim said the move comes as the state continues to emphasise the importance of ensuring safe environments for children under the care of such centres.
Before announcing the initiative, Lim also addressed the recent tragic incident involving the death of an infant at a childcare centre.
“On behalf of the Penang state government, I would like to convey our deepest condolences and sympathy to the family of the victim. The loss of a child under such circumstances is extremely heartbreaking,” she said.
Lim said the state government is extending the necessary cooperation and assistance to the victim’s family while investigations by the police and relevant authorities are ongoing. The centre, which has 43 other children enrolled, has been temporarily closed pending the outcome of the investigation.
She added that the state will continue to monitor developments closely and consider improvements to operational guidelines for childcare centres, kindergartens and care centres if necessary.
Lim also reminded operators of the heavy responsibility they carry in ensuring the well-being of those under their care, urging them to conduct thorough background checks when recruiting staff and to ensure caregivers undergo proper training.
She noted that although the government requires all caregivers to attend the PERMATA Childcare Course (KAP), some newly hired caregivers have yet to fulfil this requirement.
Lim reiterated that while the state is simplifying the registration process, safety standards will not be compromised.
She added that enforcement action will be taken against centres still operating without approval starting March 1, 2027.
“The safety of children remains the utmost priority of the state government. We must never allow another child’s life to be placed at risk due to negligence,” she said.
As such, Lim said the Penang State Welfare Department will be instructed to carry out more frequent surprise inspections to check compliance with the KAP requirement, while the State Education Department is also encouraged to conduct regular monitoring.
According to state records as of Dec 31, 2025, there are 1,033 childcare centres, kindergartens and care centres (TTPJ) operating in Penang, of which 225 remain unregistered.
The breakdown is as follows:
- Nurseries (Taska): 152 registered, 61 unregistered
- Kindergartens (Tadika): 473 registered, 84 unregistered
- Care centres: 183 registered, 80 unregistered
Lim said the situation requires serious attention as such facilities involve vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
To address the issue, the state government has approved several incentives to help operators regularise the status of their premises.
For those centres that had already come forward to register with the Social Welfare Department or the State Education Department before Dec 31, 2025, the incentives include exemption from planning permission and a fixed processing fee of RM1,000 for infrastructure registration certification related to change-of-use charges.
For new applications submitted after that date, operators will enjoy a 50% discount on development charges for change-of-use fees imposed by local authorities.
The state will also waive the usual 10-times penalty imposed on centres operating without approval, which can amount to about RM10,000 per centre. In addition, exemptions will be granted for contributions related to replacement parking spaces as well as tree planting and landscaping requirements within the administrative area of the Penang Island City Council.
Lim said the regularisation and incentive period will run from March 1, 2026, until Feb 28, 2027, giving operators sufficient time to obtain proper registration.
At the same time, the state executive council has also agreed to give operators until March 31, 2026, to verify their centre’s registration status with the Social Welfare Department or the State Education Department.
If operators can prove that they had submitted their registration before Dec 31, 2025, but were not included in the existing list, the agencies will verify and update the records accordingly.
However, Lim stressed that no appeals will be entertained after the deadline.
Meanwhile, Local Government and Town and Country Planning Committee chairman H’ng Mooi Lye said the state has also introduced pre-consultation sessions to help operators better understand the registration process.
He explained that applicants must obtain operational approval for their premises from relevant technical agencies, such as local authorities and the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, before applying for registration.
Once these approvals are secured, the documents must then be submitted to either the Social Welfare Department of Malaysia or the Penang State Education Department for evaluation and further action.
The pre-consultation sessions will involve all relevant agencies, including local authorities, JKM, the State Education Department and the fire department, to provide early guidance on procedures, technical requirements and necessary documentation.
“Through these sessions, agencies can provide advice based on the documents submitted, helping applicants prepare more thoroughly and ensuring a smoother registration process,” he said.
The state government has also updated and simplified the registration process flow chart to make it easier for operators to understand the steps required.
H’ng noted that technical approval from local authorities is only one stage within the broader registration process, and that the incentives and regularisation period introduced by the state are meant to allow operators to obtain their registration legally.
However, he stressed that the success of the initiative depends on the cooperation of operators themselves.
“The state government has taken various initiatives to facilitate the process, including the incentives announced earlier. However, operators must also play their part by complying with the requirements and completing the necessary procedures,” he said.
Also present were Seri Delima assemblyman Connie Tan, Penang JKM director Rozita Ibrahim, Penang State Education Department assistant director (Private Education Unit) Anas Salimi Ghazali, (JPNPP), Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor Heng Yeh Shiuan and representatives from several departments and agencies.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Siew Chia En