THE government is drafting a special act to enable the establishment of a fully independent Children’s Commission which will act as a watchdog on various issues affecting children in Malaysia.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said it was vital to further empower Children’s Commissioner Farah Nini Dusuki and her office, which now operates under the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

She said the office should be independent to effectively and aggressively oversee, not just the criminal laws regarding children, but also in all aspects of their well-being such as education and health.

Azalina said the act, which is expected to be tabled within this year, will authorise the commissioner to monitor, evaluate, give opinions and assist the government to ensure children’s rights are upheld and their welfare taken care of. 

Meanwhile, Farah said it was her dream and ambition to help the public understand that children’s rights are a special area and their evolving capacities require special attention.

“Child participation is often neglected. I want to change that. Our decision should be more child-centric so that what we do is in their best interest and not for just our convenience,” she said. 

Farah, who is a senior lecturer at the Universiti Malaya Faculty of Law, was appointed children’s commissioner to Suhakam for a three-year term effective March 8. – Bernama, March 16, 2023.