SHAH ALAM, April 22 — The founder and manager of a childcare centre pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court today to charges of operating without valid registration approval.
Datin Nor Fadilah Alias, 36, and the centre's manager Nurrul Farhana Ramlee, 33, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out before Magistrate Muhammad Syafiq Sulaiman.
They are jointly accused of operating a childcare centre without valid registration approval from the Social Welfare Department's (JKM) Director‑General, in Section 3, at 3.54pm on January 21 last year.
Both accused were charged under Section 6 of the Childcare Centre Act 1984 (Act 308), read together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, and, if found guilty, could face a maximum fine of RM10,000, up to two years' imprisonment, or both.
In addition, Fadilah and Farhana each face a separate charge of operating an unregistered childcare centre in Kota Kemuning at 12.30pm on January 19 last year under Section 6(1) of Act 308, which carries a penalty under Section 6(2) of a maximum fine of RM10,000, up to two years in jail, or both.
Farhana also faces another charge of negligence for endangering the life of a child in her care by leaving the child locked in a room at a childcare centre in Section 3 at 4.32pm on October 6, 2025, framed under Section 336 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of three months’ imprisonment or a fine of up to RM500.
Earlier, Deputy Public Prosecutor Muaz Khawarizmi Azfar offered bail of RM6,000 for each charge, but defence lawyer Anwar Ezzad Zainal, representing both accused, asked that the amount be reduced to RM2,000 for each charge.
He said the sum was too high and stressed that bail is not a punishment, but is meant to ensure his clients turn up in court.
Magistrate Syafiq then granted both accused bail of RM3,000 for each charge, with one surety, and set May 25 for the re-mention of the case.
Earlier, a video went viral on social media showing an autistic child locked in a storeroom and crying uncontrollably at a childcare centre in Shah Alam, before JKM confirmed the centre was unregistered.
