Rumah Victory sealedThursday, November 4th, 2010
PETALING JAYA: The Rumah Victory Children Home in Taman United here, was sealed this afternoon by the Social Welfare Department for failing to register with the department as required under Section 5(1) of the Care Centres Act 1993.
ILLEGAL: The Rumah Victory Children Home was sealed by the Social Welfare Department at 3pm today and is now off-limits (below). — Pics: Salhani Ibrahim
The action taken by the department was in accordance with Section 16A (1) of the Act, which awards complete authority to the department's director-general or any officer to take immediate action, following a care centre's failure to comply with the minimum requirements set.
Rumah Victory's caretaker, Chong Kok Hong, signed the notice issued by the department to seal the home at 3pm today.
The department had previously sent a notice on Tuesday to give inmates and staff alike ample time to vacate the home. Since the notice was issued, the children have been taken away by their parents, while those without parents have been transferred to other shelter homes under the welfare department's supervision.
Kuala Lumpur Welfare Department director Noormah Rauh, who was present today, said: "The home failed to comply with the three basic regulations set by the Fire and Rescue Department, the Health Department and the local authority.
"It's important for the home to be registered to ensure it fulfills minimum standards pertaining to the ratio of carer and residents, adequate space for inmates, nutrition as well as suitability of activities," she added.
"To date, we have identified 266 shelter homes which are unregistered. Out of these, 236 are still in the application process. Only 30 homes have had their registration approved."
For being unregistered, shelter homes can face a minimum fine of RM10,000 or two years imprisonment, or both, if convicted.
In addition, the homes can also be fined up to RM1,000 daily, under Subsection 5(2) of the Care Centres Act 1993, if they fail to comply with the minimum standards as mentioned above.
SIGNED: Chong signing the notice as a welfare officer looks on earlier today
Another spokesman from the welfare department said the inmates and their parents were upset after finding out about the home's situation. The parents had high hopes for Rumah Victory to nurture their children, but it failed in the effort.
On Tuesday, The Malay Mail reported the home's supervisor was also allegedly involved with the sexual crimes and physical abuse of underaged boys at Rumah Victory, in addition to the conducts of an award-winning ex-Press photographer, who first revealed the alleged sexual crimes at the home.
Checks on the supervisor's background showed a past record for a drug-related offense.
Noormah said operators or management of shelter homes must take necessary measures in properly screening its staff and volunteers, and that behavioural protocols are put in place to ensure a safe environment for inmates, in regards to some staff members not being evaluated at all.
Rumah Victory is also being investigated after the ex-photographer revealed on Monday that the home had been involved in serious sexual conducts involving the staff at the home which houses 21 boys from the age of nine to 15.
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