KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) needs to obtain the police report before determining whether parents of two siblings who perished in a pre-dawn fire were negligent.
Its minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said they were waiting for a full report on the fire to determine whether the parents of the victims had committed an offence under the Children Act 2001 (Act 611) due to negligence.
"We are waiting for a report from the police before we can determine the status of the parents," she told BH.
Nancy was asked whether the parents of siblings Nur Syaza Alfisya Muhammad Faizan, 10, and her younger brother, Muhammad Al Qayyum Muhammad Faizan, 7, who perished in the fire at their home in Kampung Simpang Tiga could be prosecuted for negligence.
In the fire at about 3.30am today, the bodies of the brother and sister were found in the main room of their home.
According to family members, the victim's parents were reportedly not at home at the time of the incident because they had gone out to eat.
Section 31 of the Child Act 2001 outlines abuse, neglect, abandonment and exposure of children.
Section 31(1)(a) states that it is an offence for any person who has custody of a child, to abuse, neglect, abandon or expose the child in a manner likely to cause the child to suffer physical or emotional injury.
On the steps that can be taken to ensure such an incident does not recur, Nancy said existing laws need to be tightened, including those that are not under the jurisdiction of KPWKM.
She added the ministry was open to working with other ministries and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the matter.
"In addition, KPWKM will strive to encourage community empowerment so that neighbours and volunteers take action that can prevent things such as this from happening," she said.
