Ajeet Kaur also called on the government to ensure that best practices were followed as is the case in some other jurisdictions to make certain that children are protected.

“At the very least, there needs to be a systematic and formal screening process carried out of owners and personnel who have access to children at these centres,” she told FMT.

Ajeet, who is co-chairman of the Malaysian Bar’s child rights committee, said this must be coupled with an awareness of approved and licensed centres in all neighbourhoods.

According to Kajang police chief Ahmad Dzaffir Mohd Yussof, doctors who examined the baby after her death on Friday found tears on her hymen and anus.

Her mother told police the baby had been sent to a caretaker’s home on Thursday morning. She was rushed to the Bandar Baru Bangi Clinic before being referred to Serdang Hospital after suffering from shortness of breath.

Police said the baby’s parents lived in the same housing estate as the caretaker and they had been sending their child there since September.

They have arrested a woman, 28, and her husband, 36.

Ahmad Dzaffir said the man had tested positive for methamphetamine.

Noting that many parents had to leave their children in daycare centres while they were at work, Ajeet suggested that creches be set up at the work place to allow them easy access to their children.

She also called for in-depth studies to determine what prompted perpetrators to carry out sexual abuse against children.

“Understanding the root cause will lead to better ways to address and deal with the issue,” she said, adding that the death of the 11-month-old was heart-wrenching.