The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has asked the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) to lower the rate for conversion of residential homes to care centres.

Deputy Minister Chew Mei Fun said the current rate fixed by the council on operators who wanted to convert residential houses into care centres at RM50 per square foot was too high.

She said as a result of the high cost, many care centres for children, the disabled and senior citizens in the state were not registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM).

"I hope the council will consider our request because these services are not just for business but also to provide social service to the community," she told reporters after a visit to the JKM office here today.

She said JKM's record showed only 98 care centres in Penang were registered and among the cause of centres not registering was the high cost of changing status.

Chew said the status conversion would cost about RM50,000, if the area of the care centre was 1,000 square feet.

She said according to JKM records, as of June this year, at least 95 care centres in the state operated without registration, with 62 in the Timur Laut district, Seberang Perai Tengah (10), Seberang Perai Utara (nine) and seven each in Barat Daya and Seberang Perai Selatan.

Chew said each care centre needed to be registered with JKM so that the department could ensure its service quality and cleanliness.

She warned that the department could take action against any unregistered care centre under the Care Centres Act 1993.

"I am ready to meet with local authorities to discuss this matter so that more registered care centres are established," she added.

- Bernama