Prosecutions against Parents for Breach of Bond Terms in Care and Protection Orders

80 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development in view of the Ministry not tracking the number of bonds breached, whether the Ministry has data on the number of prosecutions against parents for breach of the bond terms signed under a Care and Protection Order for each of the past five years and, if so, what is this number.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli B M M: From 2019 to 2023, there were no prosecutions against parents for breaching the bond terms signed under a Care and Protection Order.

Most parents adhere to the bond terms, ensuring they provide proper care and guardianship for their child while attending counselling or treatment. For those who fail to comply, we adopt a practical approach by discussing the potential consequences of non-compliance with them. If the parents continue to be uncooperative, the Ministry of Social and Family Development's Child Protective Service will take the necessary steps to safeguard the child, including exercising statutory powers to remove the child from the home.