THE Dewan Rakyat has rejected a motion to debate a Unicef report that highlights poverty and malnutrition among children living in low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur.

The motion, filed by Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang), was rejected on the grounds that various government agencies are already studying the report, published last week, and there is no urgency to debate the matter, which is not of public interest.

“The speaker’s decision caricatures his complacency, and to a large extent, the government’s dismissive attitude,” the lawmaker told reporters at the Parliament building today.

“This (motion) should be the country’s top priority, as one in five children grows at a slower rate compared with (children in) Thailand, while eight in 10 families don’t even have RM1 in savings.”

The Unicef report, titled “Children Without: A study of urban child poverty and deprivation in low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur”, published on February 26, shows that children living in low-cost flats are deprived in terms of nutrition, education, safety and other living conditions.

He said the Unicef study demonstrated the failure of public policy in providing a better quality of life for urban poor families.

“Parliament needs to enact a Child Poverty Act under a Child Poverty Commission, which could be the principal advisor to the government. It must look at the root causes of child poverty, including economic opportunities for families to ensure they can earn adequate income and build assets that will enable them to avoid poverty and its risk factors,” he said. 

At a separate press conference, Barisan Nasional Backbenchers’ Club chairman Shahrir Abdul Samad said BN MPs would bring up the issues highlighted in the study during their debates. 

“We are not in denial but we cannot be negative towards this research. We encourage such reports because the Economic Planning Unit can look into them. 

“We are not defensive, we think it is an excellent study and we have to improve our delivers and outcome of our programmes,” he said, adding he hoped for such studies to be carried out in his constituency and Felda settlements. – March 8, 2018.