Answer for Oral Question PL154

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Chong Chin Yee

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG CHONG CHIN YEE asked MENTERI KEBUDAYAAN, BELIA DAN SUKAN to state the Ministry’s preventive measures in assisting the early identification of unsafe behaviour, taking into account the increase in reported cases following the implementation of the National Framework for Child Protection (NFCP). How can youths support these preventive efforts?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports welcomes and supports the more active involvement of youths in efforts to identify and prevent unsafe behaviour towards children at an early stage, particularly in the context of the increase in reported cases in line with the implementation of the National Framework for Child Protection (NFCP). This approach is consistent with the Whole-of-Nation approach, which emphasises the role of all levels of society, including youths, as strategic partners in child protection.

The experience and good practices of other countries, such as Singapore (Youth Civil Society Organisation), demonstrate that youth involvement through volunteer platforms and civil society organisations can make a significant contribution to early detection, prevention and community support. In this context, the potential of youths in the country can be harnessed in a more systematic and planned manner.

Given that the NFCP encompasses four main sectors, namely the Education Sector, Enforcement Sector, Health Sector and Social Services Sector, this Ministry sees an opportunity, particularly under the Social Services Sector, to strengthen youths’ understanding of this framework through appropriate briefing and exposure sessions, especially for youths involved as volunteers.

This approach enables youths to serve as awareness agents at the community level, including acting as mentors or an initial point of reference in identifying early signs of children who may potentially become victims.

Overall, the NFCP does indeed place emphasis on the early detection and protection of children at risk. Therefore, structured support and involvement by youths can not only broaden the reach of preventive efforts but also strengthen the community protection network in a holistic and sustainable manner.