JOINT EFFORT TO CURB EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN FOR FUND-RAISING

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 (Bernama) -- The Women, Family and Community Development
Ministry will cooperate with the police to curb the exploitation of children for
fund-raising through the Child Act 2001.

Its minister, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said offenders could be charged under
Section 32 of the Act which carries a fine up to RM5,000 (US$1,666) or
imprisonment up to two years or both, if convicted.

She said parents or guardians of rescued children would be bound to obey
court orders under Section 30 of the Act to ensure that the welfare of the
children would not be neglected.

"The Welfare Services Department will lodge police reports on cases of
children being exploited for fund-raising," she told reporters after receiving
United States Special Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Anwar Pandith
here Thursday.

Shahrizat said an inter-agency discussion held on Tuesday had agreed to
conduct a joint operation to rescue children, who were exploited for
fund-raising, while the police would detain, investigate and prosecute those
responsible.

On her meeting with Pandith, Shahrizat said it centred on bilateral
relations between women in the US and Malaysia, particularly Muslim women
entrepreneurship.

"Pandith is here to learn about what we are doing and maybe she could pursue
certain ideas or proposals that we had tossed," added Shahrizat.

Pandith said she had learned a lot about what the ministry was doing and
called upon Malaysia to take part in the US global initiative to promote
women's participation in the public service.

She said the initiative was a collaboration between the state department and
seven colleges in the US.

"We would love to see Malaysian women, universities, NGOs take part in this
global effort to see more women involved in serving around the world," she said,
adding that, the meeting was resourceful.