GEORGE TOWN, July 28 -- The Penang State Welfare Department (JKM) rescued 20 children, including a 15-day-old baby girl, in a special operation at a warehouse and house in Bukit Mertajam last week.

JKM, together with the police, raided the premises, believed to have been turned into an unregistered learning centre, after receiving public complaints about suspicious activities.

State social development, welfare and non-islamic religious affairs committee chairman Lim Siew Khim said that after monitoring the premises, JKM observed groups of children entering and leaving the warehouse under suspicious circumstances.

The special operation on July 21 found that the children kept at the premises were believed to be deprived of basic needs su...