Childcare Profession Plays Key Role In Supporting Working Families, Says Tengku Zafrul | KiddyNews

The childcare profession should be recognised as an important part of Malaysia’s economic and social support system, rather than viewed simply as a job involving the care of children, said Prime Minister’s Senior Political Adviser Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said access to trusted childcare allows parents to continue working with greater peace of mind while ensuring their children receive proper care.

“Looking after those who care for our children is the same as looking after Malaysia’s future,” he said at the Central Zone Gala Pesona Kasih Madani in Ampang Jaya on Sept 20.

Raising Professional Standards

Tengku Zafrul said training, certification, recognition and legislation should continue to be prioritised to strengthen standards within the childcare profession.

He added that the experiences and challenges shared by childcare providers through the Kasih Madani programme would be brought to the Finance Ministry and Prime Minister for consideration in Budget 2027.

Areas under consideration include support for childcare providers, training, certification and the expansion of related programmes.

Supporting Home-Based Childcare Providers

About 600 informal childcare providers, family members, mentors, programme partners and other stakeholders attended the Central Zone Gala Pesona Kasih Madani.

The programme aims to strengthen the knowledge, skills and professionalism of home-based childcare providers in Malaysia.

Since its launch in August 2025, Kasih Madani has reached more than 1,000 childcare providers across Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Kedah and Penang.

Its programmes include the Madani Childcare Pilot Course (KARISMA), Madani Childcare Seminar (SEMAI) and Madani Childcare Professionalisation Skills Mentoring (BITARA).

The initiative, implemented by Merdeka Center with support from Yayasan Sime Darby and the Ministry of Finance through Budget 2026, also covers skills development, career planning, leadership, personal branding and mentoring.

Childcare And The Family Economy

Tengku Zafrul said his engagement with communities had highlighted how heavily families depend on trusted childcare providers, particularly when parents need to remain in employment while ensuring their children are properly cared for.

Recognising and strengthening the childcare workforce could therefore support both children’s wellbeing and parents’ ability to participate in the workforce.

The ongoing focus on training and professional development also reflects efforts to build a more skilled and recognised childcare sector that families can rely on.

Source:

Malay Mail – “Childcare is economic infrastructure, not ‘just a job’, says Tengku Zafrul”

Thoughtfully adapted by KiddyNews. Keeping parents and educators informed with the latest ECCE developments from Malaysia and beyond.