IT is important for children who would be future leaders to be given excellent care, says state executive councillor Chong Eng.
“The government should treat this as an important agenda instead of just hoping for things to turn out well,” Chong Eng, who is in charge of the state Women and Family Development, Gender Inclusiveness and Non-Islamic Affairs Committee, said when officiating the re-opening of Taska D’Komtar in Komtar today.
The state-run childcare centre stopped operating from March 18 as a result of the movement control order due to the Covid 19 pandemic.
“We will observe the development of Taska D’Komtar for one week from today to see the challenges. If things go well, the other 15 childcare centres in the state will be given the green-light to re-open,” Chong Eng said.
Taska D’Komtar re-opened today with eight children attending out of the 32 who had registered. Also present was childcare centre operator Philomena Dephamuphu.
Chong Eng added that from survey carried out by her office, parents would like to have the option of working from home, taking time off to care for their children and be provided with healthcare facilities.
“It is also important to have more women leaders in society to encourage mothers to raise their young children, especially those in the one to three-year old group, with consistent and loving care,” she stressed.
Story by Danny Ooi
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud