The human resources ministry has proposed to set up a child-care complex in each new industrial area in order to encourage housewives to contribute in the manufacturing industry.

"We hope this will encourage more women and housewives to come out from the house and work," minister Dr Fong Chan Onn told reporters at Parliament's lobby.

He said the preliminary concept of the complex may require factories in the industrial area concerned to subsidise the complex and it will be managed by a committee appointed by a special unit in the area.

Under this proposal, new industrial areas such as in Balakong, Selangor or free duty areas are to be included under the project, Fong explained.

He was uncertain when the proposal could materialise saying that discussions were ongoing.

"We are discussing with the local authority now, because this project requires the blessing of the local authorities," Fong noted.

The minister told the House earlier in a reply to Markiman Kobiran (BN-Hulu Langat) that the ministry has received 29 applications from employers to set up child-care centres in their premises and that these applications were under consideration.

He said the ministry will offer incentives to employers who provide and manage the child-care centres under the Income Tax Act and industry building allowances.

Shortage of medical officers

In another development, Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek said in a written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) that the government is short of 4,151 medical officers in meeting the needs of Malaysians.

The current medical officers to citizen ratio stood at one to 1,755.

The ration was based on posts for medical officers, of which 9,313 out of 13,464 or 69.2 percent had been filled.

In May, Chua revealed that the doctor-patient ratio in Malaysia stood at one to 5,000.

The ratio was based on posts for doctors at government hospitals and clinics, of which 10,195 out of 13,457 or 75 percent had been filled.