Seputeh MP proposes agency to enforce child support on errant fathers

PARLIAMENT | Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) has proposed the establishment of a federal Child Support Agency to automatically enforce maintenance payments on fathers who fail or refuse to support their children.

Speaking during the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) debate in the Dewan Rakyat today, Kok said the National Family Care Agenda cannot assume that fathers will automatically fulfil their responsibilities, contrary to realities faced by many single mothers.

“Many mothers are forced to become personal debt collectors, chasing down ex-husbands just to claim basic child support,” she said.

“This is not only unfair but also causes long-term emotional and financial strain.”

She urged the government to model the agency after those in countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which operate government-run systems to enforce maintenance payments through wage deductions, passport suspensions, and legal action

“These approaches treat child support as a state-supervised responsibility - not a private burden,” she said.

“Malaysia is late to the game, but it’s not too late to act in the interest of justice and our children’s future.”

Education system

Kok also called for a comprehensive overhaul of the education system, saying the government’s emphasis on Technical and Vocational Education and Training under the 13MP is welcomed but insufficient.

“In urban areas, more parents are turning to private schools or homeschooling because they’ve lost confidence in the national education system,” she said.

She urged the Education Ministry to conduct a nationwide survey among parents to better understand their preferences and why many from the middle class and above prefer private schooling.

Kok also renewed her appeal for the ministry to treat national-type secondary schools fairly, citing her long-standing push to relocate SMJK Confucian to Lot 54836 in Taman Danau Desa.

She said the SMJK Confucian building, constructed in 1922, has been deemed unsafe by consulting firm JPC Sdn Bhd. Moreover, the school does not own the land it occupies and shares space with a private Chinese school, limiting its ability to expand or conduct student activities.

According to Kok, the proposed relocation site has been vacant for over two decades following the relocation of SK Danau Perdana, and a long-standing legal dispute involving the Education Ministry has since been resolved.

She cited the Statistics Department (DOSM) data showing 115,399 residents aged 10-19 within a 5km radius of Taman Danau Desa, but only 16,237 students are enrolled across 17 existing secondary schools, indicating many students travel further for schooling.

“There are also 10 Chinese primary schools in the area with a total enrolment of 12,950 pupils. Many parents want their children to continue at national-type secondary schools,” she said.

Kok said a memorandum on the issue was submitted to the education minister by the SMJK Confucian school board and 26 community associations in the area.

“I have also personally raised the matter with the minister and deputy minister. I hope the education ministry will seriously consider this relocation to protect the safety of students,” she added.

Reporting by Alyaa Alhadjri, Zarrah Morden, B Nantha Kumar

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