TAWAU: The District Welfare Office (PKM) recorded 261 cases of children requiring care and protection in Tawau over an 11-month period from January to November 2025.
The office also documented 40 cases involving children in criminal activities, two cases of uncontrollable children and adoption matters, one civil case and seven syariah cases during the same period.
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Assistant Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Rina Jainal urged all parties not to remain silent, turn a blind eye or allow another child to become a victim.
“Every day, there are children who wake up with smiles. But there are also children who wake up with trauma, fear and hidden wounds,” she said while officiating the Child Protection Advocacy Programme: Love for Children held at the Tawau Hospital’s Auditorium recently.
“There are children who run cheerfully around their house, but there are also children who cry in silence because they do not know who to talk to,” she added.
The programme, organised by the Sabah Social Welfare Department in collaboration with the Tawau District Child Protection Team (PPKK), was attended by more than 100 teenagers from five schools in the district.
Rina said the PKM statistics reflects the importance of the advocacy programme, which serves as one of the initiatives to help and guide children, parents and communities facing the challenges of child social crimes.
She said the programme is not just a lecture or activity, but rather a movement of compassion with a clear purpose to develop an aware society where everyone recognises signs of abuse and takes immediate action.
“The programme also gives voice to children who cannot speak up, especially as they did not choose to be born into danger,” she said.
Additionally, the initiative empowers parents, teachers and communities to become protectors rather than bystanders.
She called on all parties to be the eyes and ears of society and to be a voice for those who cannot speak, as every child saved represents a future they protect.
“Remember, every child who is protected is one future that is saved. I believe that with the spirit of ‘Love for Children’, we can instil values of empathy, responsibility and social awareness in our community,” she said.
The event was also attended by Tawau Division Welfare Officer Sarina Musa and PPKK Chairman Ahmad Dullah.
Rina, who is Kukusan Assemblywoman also announced a contribution of RM10,000 to the team.
