The Malaysian Insight

MALAYSIA lacks a child parliament or other similar mechanism to allow for their participation in policy-making, Child Rights Coalition Malaysia (CRCM) said in its recent report.

“Establish a child parliament similar to Malaysia’s youth parliament to institutionalise their participation in policy-making and include the participation of all children below the age of 18 from marginalised communities, including refugee, asylum-seeking and stateless children,” CRCM said.

The current youth parliament allows for the political participation of youth between the ages of 18 and 30, and is made up of representatives from all over the country.

Co-writer of the CRCM report, Azira Aziz told The Malaysian Insight that a child parliament is also a good move as it allows direct contact between children and legislators to advocate issues that affect them.

“With the fourth industrial revolution, I think we should give children credit for their intelligence and ability to advocate for themselves and give access to the right tools and training.

“I’d say Malaysian children today are ready to articulate the issues affecting them, and with proper guidance, are more than able to advocate for themselves,” the lawyer said.

Azira said the recent Parlimen Digital organised with Undi18 and Challenger, a simulation of parliament using video conferencing, saw the youngest participant, aged 15, articulate her views beautifully.

Aside from the child parliament proposal, CRCM also urged the government to provide other mechanisms to hear children’s voices.

“The government can conduct surveys or have feedback forms for children to the government, for a team of researchers to filter through and analyse on a regular basis prior to implementation of new policies,” Azira said.

One reform that the CRCM celebrated in this area was the appointment of the children’s commissioner last year.

The Prime Minister’s Department named law professor Noor Aziah Mohd Awal for the role from 2019 to 2022.

Since then, CRCM said the child commissioner was able to push for as many child rights issues. However, the main barrier was red tape.

“The problems need the coordination of multiple stakeholders and power holders, which take tactful diplomacy and time,” Azira said.

“For example, the issue of citizenship for children born to unknown parents, or a Malaysian mother and a foreign father.

“It’s not just (under the) welfare department, it’s also (under the) immigration, registration department, Home Ministry and in some cases, state shariah departments.”

Azira urged the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to support its initiatives.

“In 2019, I had high hopes for the future as we had a very supportive minister who actively sought grassroots data, opinion, feedback, and the current child commissioner.

“We even had a plan to end child marriages under the ministry. Today, I am not sure whether it is being done on the ground or not, despite the ministry making a statement that it is not cancelling plans to end child marriage.” – December 6, 2020.