Confinement centres lack refined rules

THE STAR

Friday, 21 Feb 2020

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news...k-refined-rules

https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news...centre#cxrecs_s

By VIJENTHI NAIR




MPKj sealing the confinement centre in Bandar Mahkota Cheras for illegally operating in a residential premises. — Photos: LOW BOON TAT/The Star

LAX regulations on post-natal care confinement centres are opening avenues for unscrupulous practices.

Business owners have free reign to decide on the operation of their centres.

They are only required to register themselves with the Welfare Department (JKM) and obtain a business premise licence from the local authority to start operations.

Despite the lenient requirements, many businesses operate illegally. One such centre is in Bandar Mahkota Cheras, which Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) has yet to shut down despite numerous complaints lodged with the local authority against the establishment. Police reports have also been made.


MPKj councillor Lim Kim Eng said the centre was managed by a married couple.

“The business is registered in the woman’s name. Their offence is the illegal use of a residential property for commercial purposes, which comes under the jurisdiction of the local authority. So, only MPKj can take action against them.

“There were two attempts by MPKj to seal the premises. In October last year, MPKj did not physically seal the property under humanitarian grounds as there were mothers and their newborn staying there. A notice to stop operation was given but the management ignored it and the owner continued to operate as usual.

“So MPKj went again on Jan 20 and sealed the premises. However, the operators broke the lock and resumed business. They are asking for time until the end of the month to relocate the mothers and newborn” she said, adding that the couple also operated another illegal confinement centre in Bandar Sungai Long.

Lim said it was time the government looked into regulating confinement centres as the demand for such services was rising and more establishments would be coming up.

Items left outside the house on the back lane were also confiscated by MPKj after sealing the premises.
Items left outside the house on the back lane were also confiscated by MPKj after sealing the premises.

“There are many confinement centres catering to various communities. MPKj has only issued licences to four centres, which means the rest are operating illegally.

“There is no assurance that a professional will be there to advise on proper post-natal care for the mother and her newborn.

“At most of these centres, domestic helpers are hired to take care of the mothers and their newborns. They are not trained for such jobs and with no proper supervision, the customers at the centre complain of being served with non-nutritious food and poor hygiene.

“The fragile state of the mother and newborn is compromised by the lack of expertise, ” she added.

Kajang assemblyman Hee Loy Sian’s legal adviser Ng Yih Miin said there was talk that post-natal confinement centres would fall under the purview of JKM and any centre that offers medical services would come under Health Ministry regulations.

“But no legal framework or guidelines have been promulgated by the ministry nor JKM since 2016, ” he noted.

StarMetro contacted the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and was informed by Deputy Minister Hannah Yeoh’s private secretary Joyce Chow that the ministry was in discussion with the Health Ministry on the matter.

Customers’ complaints

The particular centre raided recently came under MPKj’s radar following a bad experience shared on social media last year by one of the centre’s customers, Kathy (not her real name).

This led to many of the customers who had booked its services at the Bandar Sungai Long centre to cancel, but the operator refused requests for refunds. The customers filed police reports and sought the Consumer Claims Tribunal’s help to get their money back.

Kathy booked the confinement centre’s services in March last year and checked into the centre in September after delivering her baby.

She said there were flies and the centre served food unsuitable for mothers who had just given birth.

“When I visited the centre prior to booking, I looked into their refrigerator and it was stocked with Chinese herbs. However, I was not served any of that.

“My meals consisted of instant noodles with fish balls and other processed food like sausages.

“When I questioned my food plan, the worker replied that the other mothers liked it so I have to follow the majority.

“They lacked proper hygiene and I found flies in my food a few times. The last straw was when my son fell sick and I decided to leave the premises for good.

“I demanded a refund for the five days left of my stay and I recounted my experience on the centre’s Facebook page. The operator started badmouthing me in the chat group with other customers.

“And to my horror, he posted a photo of my underwear which I accidentally left behind. He staged the picture of the item of clothing drying on a bouquet of flowers and accused me of being a disgusting person.

“I have since lodged a police report against him, ” she said.

Kathy added the operator seemed unperturbed by customers’ complaints and MPKj’s enforcement action.

Another disgruntled customer at the Bandar Sungai Long centre, Mary (not her real name) said she had to share a room with seven domestic helpers because there was no other room available.

“The operator said another mother had delivered early and took my spot. The centre would not refund my money and I was too weak to argue, so I settled in the room with another customer and the domestic helpers.

“The domestic helpers were moved from the room three days later. But I was very unhappy with the centre’s services.

“It only had three domestic helpers working at any one time to take care of 11 mothers and their newborn.

“After a week, I felt better and wanted to leave. I requested a refund for the rest of my stay at the Bandar Mahkota Cheras centre but was again denied. So I stayed on and they later transferred me to another centre.

“The staff were overworked, food was not good and the premises had many flies, ” she said of the original centre she had stayed in.

A former customer Alex (not his real name) said the couple operating the centre were the same people who ran a daycare and post-natal confinement centre where his then 10-month-old son was hurt in 2015.

“The court found the man guilty of hurting my child and was fined RM2,000. I was told that he would be barred by the Welfare Department from having any businesses that involved children.

“I am shocked that the couple are still in the same line of business today and have been getting away with it, ” he said.

Nelson (not his real name) was one of the many who wanted a refund after learning about Kathy and Alex’s experiences.

“I had no idea that they did not have the business licence to operate at the premises. I asked for a refund and the operator agreed but then later, he ignored all my attempts to contact him, ” he said.

Another case involves a woman who is seeking a refund after suffering a miscarriage.

“I asked for a refund in October and they asked for documents to prove my miscarriage, ” said Mandy (not her real name).

“After providing proof, the operator has not responded to my calls, ” she said.



In Puchong D'Island, there's an illegal confinement centre similar to this case as well. ANYONE CAN GUESS? KINDLY BEWARE.

Puchong , Selangor


Public please share the names of Confinement Centre that is illegal and is operating without Commercial License.