LUNDU: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry urged parents to take a more active and firmer role in monitoring their children’s behaviour and social interactions, especially in the digital age.
Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri made the call following a case involving a police officer discovering a video recording of his 14-year-old daughter engaging in sexual acts with a teenaged boy on her phone.
“I commend the police officer for taking action on what his child was involved in, because parents must play this role at home.
“While laws exist, they are not enough to instil good values in children. These values need to be nurtured within the family.
“It starts with the parents – how we behave at home, how we speak, and who our children associate with. We need to know who their friends are.
“Even though we may feel uncomfortable getting involved in other people’s business, knowing what is happening has become essential today, so that we understand what our children are doing,” she said.
She said this when met by reporters after officiating at the Malaysia MADANI Nationhood Seminar organised by Malaysia Nationhood Academy at the Sampadi Nationhood Training Centre yesterday.
The Santubong Member of Parliament also stated that parents must be firm in setting boundaries, especially in challenges posed by children spending too much time on their phones.
“The role of parents at home is crucial. We cannot rely on others to educate our children,” she said.
While acknowledging that a whole-of-community approach is vital, Nancy added that parental guidance lays the foundation for a child’s behaviour and character.
“The way they act outside reflects the values they learn at home – how they speak, how they carry themselves, and how they interact with others,” she said.
