MALACCA, Sept 13 — Police have the power to interrogate children without the permission or presence or their parents or guardian in cases involving the Criminal Procedure Code, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim.

However, she said, in cases investigated under the Child Act 2001 by police through the Sexual, Abuse and Child Investigation Department (D11), the child should be interrogated in the presence of the welfare officer, parents or guardian.

“My ministry works closely with D11 in closely monitoring the welfare of these children. The officers from this division have been specially trained to  handle such cases.

“The public should not be unduly worried as whatever case investigated,  whether involving the Criminal Procedure Code or Child Act, we at the ministry will ensure that the children’s welfare is safeguarded,” she told reporters after visiting the Melaka Urban Transformation Centre, here, today.

She was asked to comment on the statement by the Bar Council’s Constitutional Law Committee chairman and human rights advocate, Edmund Bon, which suggested that parents sue the police if their child under 18 years of age was interrogated by the police without their presence.

Bon in a news portal on Sept 5 was also reported to have said that police had violated Section 113 of the Child Act by questioning pupils of Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Pristina in Sungai Buloh, Selangor over the controversy of pupils having to eat in the school’s changing room.

Rohani, however, said that the section stated by Bon had nothing to with the case investigated by the police as it did not fall under the Child Act.

“Section 113 of the Child Act only applies to offences under this act, not other acts. So far, we don’t have clear facts under what law the investigation was conducted but definitely not under the Child Act,” she said.

On another note, Rohani urged women who have been discriminated by their employers or denied employment because they wear the “tudung” (headcover) to report the matter to any agency under her ministry.

“Women should not be afraid to come forward to complain about such cases as we always protect them. We will also call the employers involved for explanation before taking further action.

“If the complaint is true, we will not hesitate to bring up the case to the Attorney-General for legal action to be taken. In fact, the Attorney-General’s Chambers has a special unit to handle cases of discrimination against women,” she said.

Met after handing out Azam Niaga certificates and appliances in Peringgit, here, Rohani said the participants must change their mindset so that they would not remain as welfare aid recipients.

“I have met some monthly welfare aid recipients who said they did not want to receive such aid anymore if they managed to increase their income by involving in small business through the programme,” she said.

Rohani said 106,967 people had participated in the 1Azam programme under her ministry since it was introduced in January 2011 until July this year.

Asked on the ministry’s hopes from the Bumiputera Economic Empowerment programme that would be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tomorrow, she said it hoped that more Bumiputera entrepreneurs, especially the women, could expand their business abroad.

She said through the 1Azam programme, the ministry had produced 3,735 Bumiputera women entrepreneurs. — Bernama