SHAH ALAM - A special department for children's needs to be set up as there are no specific institution to focus on the young, said Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) Commissioner Datuk Noor Aziah Mohd Awal.
She said the country had 9.7 million children and Social Welfare Department officers may not be able to care for all.
"The social welfare department also care for persons with disabilities (PWD), flood victims and where would that place the children?
"We need a department for children with 300 to 400 protection officers. Some of the staffs use different hats serving as protective officers, sometimes moral officers," she said, adding that she hopes the government will be serious in protecting children, including those abandonment or abused.
She said there must be an expert that could communicate with them as they may be dealing with mental stress issues.
She said the country had 9.7 million children and Social Welfare Department officers may not be able to care for all.
"The social welfare department also care for persons with disabilities (PWD), flood victims and where would that place the children?
"We need a department for children with 300 to 400 protection officers. Some of the staffs use different hats serving as protective officers, sometimes moral officers," she said, adding that she hopes the government will be serious in protecting children, including those abandonment or abused.
She said there must be an expert that could communicate with them as they may be dealing with mental stress issues.