Twenty children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, were rescued from a warehouse and a house operating as an unregistered learning centre in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, last week.
Penang social development and welfare committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said the rescue operation was carried out by the social welfare department (JKM) with the cooperation of the police, following public complaints.
“Those rescued were aged between 15 days and 16 years, comprising 10 boys and 10 girls.
“Initial investigations revealed that 12 children, including the baby, did not have birth certificates.
“Six had valid documents but no parents or guardians, while two have since been placed in the care of close family members,” Lim told a press conference in George Town today.
She was quoted by Kosmo as saying a 20-year-old woman, believed to be the biological mother of the baby, was also “rescued” during the operation.
All those rescued are believed to be of various nationalities and primarily spoke Mandarin, with limited proficiency in Malay.
Lim said the children are believed to have been deprived of basic necessities, including adequate food, clothing and safe shelter.
“The warehouse was in a filthy condition and completely unsuitable for habitation, especially by children.
“It was neither a care home nor a registered learning centre. Children should not have been there,” she said.
During the raid, five adults believed to be acting as caretakers were also found on the premises. They were local individuals, aged over 18, and are currently being investigated by the police.
“Health screenings have also been conducted at Seberang Jaya Hospital with the involvement of JKM psychological officers,” Lim said, adding that a temporary custody order for the children had been granted by the court.
Lim said her office had received several public complaints since the end of last year about the centre. However, earlier inspections at the address found no children present.
