Fadhlina recalls her child’s abuse by a caregiver while she was a lawyer

Malaysia’s Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek has recalled how her second child was abused by a caregiver while she was working as a lawyer and raising six children.

She said the child was beaten on the legs while she faced an extremely demanding work schedule. At the time, she felt deeply guilty because she had no choice but to rely on a caregiver while continuing her legal career.

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My second child was abused by a caregiver. Yes, abused, beaten on the legs, and at that time I felt extremely guilty because as a working mother, and a lawyer then, my schedule was tight and I had no choice but to send my child to a caregiver.

The experience changed how she viewed childcare work. Fadhlina said caregivers needed a stronger commitment and that childcare represented an important opportunity and responsibility in society.

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This experience made me feel that caregiving must involve a commitment, or what we call an important opportunity and responsibility in society.

Speaking at the Kasih Madani Gala Pesona Kasih gathering in Butterworth, she also recalled the death of her fourth child from sudden infant death syndrome. The loss left her traumatized and forced her to consider whether to continue working or care for her children full time. She said support from her extended family, including her siblings, helped her through the difficult period and allowed her to continue her career.

Fadhlina said the experience showed the importance of building a more comprehensive childcare ecosystem, so working mothers can feel confident that their children are safe and properly cared for. She supports Kasih Madani, a program aimed at strengthening home- and community-based childcare by improving caregivers’ skills. She said she had informed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and asked for the program to be included in next year’s budget.

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This experience showed me how important it is to develop a more comprehensive childcare ecosystem so that working mothers can be confident their children are safe and receiving proper care.