Kindergartens and childcare in Penang: who registers them and how to check

The short version

A childcare centre (TASKA, for children under 4) must be registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM) under the Child Care Centre Act 1984 (Act 308); a private kindergarten (tadika, for ages 4 to 6) must be registered with the Private Education Division of the Ministry of Education (KPM). Before you sign up, check the centre is on the government's list of registered centres.

Why it matters in Penang: at the end of 2025, the state counted 1,033 childcare centres, kindergartens and care centres in Penang, of which 225 were not registered.
Help with fees: for the 2025 year of assessment, parents can claim up to RM3,000 tax relief for fees paid to a registered childcare centre or kindergarten for a child aged 6 or under.
Government-run options for Malaysian children include KPM preschool classes in government schools (ages 5 and 6) and TABIKA run by KEMAS or the National Unity Department (ages 4 to 6).

Who registers what

Type	Ages	Run by	Registered with or run under
TASKA (childcare centre)	Under 4 (the government also gives 2-4)	Government and private operators	Social Welfare Department (JKM), Act 308
Private tadika (kindergarten)	4-6	Private operators	Private Education Division (Bahagian Pendidikan Swasta), KPM
Islamic tadika or tahfiz centre		Private operators	State Islamic Religious Council or Department (MAIN or JAIN), if it teaches a religious curriculum
Kindergarten in an international school		International schools only	Uses a foreign curriculum, such as British, Australian, Canadian or American
KPM preschool (prasekolah)	5-6	Government schools	Daily Schools Management Division, KPM
TABIKA KEMAS	4-6	Community Development Department (KEMAS)	KEMAS
TABIKA Perpaduan	4-6	National Unity and Integration Department (JPNIN)	JPNIN

The government portal says private tadika use the national preschool curriculum (KSPK), with extra programmes such as QDEES or BIR ALI.

Sources: MyGovernment, Pendidikan Awal Kanak-kanak, MyGovernment, Tadika Swasta and MyGovernment, TASKA, read 2026-10-14.

How to check a centre is registered

TASKA: the government portal points parents to three lists of registered TASKA: JKM's list, KEMAS's list and JPNIN's list.
Tadika: the portal says private kindergartens must be registered with KPM's Private Education Division. The portal links to no public KPM search for registered kindergartens.
In Penang: the state government said in March 2026 that operators could check their registration status with the State Education Department (Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri) or JKM.

Penang's 2026 registration drive. As of 31 December 2025, the state counted:

Type	Total	Not registered
TASKA (childcare centres)	213	61
Tadika (kindergartens)	557	84
Care centres (pusat jagaan)	263	80
All	1,033	225

The state is running an amnesty with incentives for operators from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2027, and said enforcement against premises still operating without registration would start on 1 March 2027. Its incentives include a flat RM1,000 processing fee for some operators and a 50% discount on some development charges.

Sources: MyGovernment, TASKA, MyGovernment, Tadika Swasta and Utusan Malaysia, 12 March 2026, read 2026-10-14.

Government preschool and TABIKA

KPM preschool: for Malaysian children aged 5 and 6 in the school year applied for, in government primary schools, using the national preschool curriculum. Priority goes to low-income (B40) families and rural areas. Apply online through KPM's e-Prasekolah system between 1 March and 30 April of the year before; forms are also available at primary schools that run preschool classes.
TABIKA KEMAS: for Malaysian children aged 4 to 6, mainly in rural areas and B40 communities. Send the registration form to the nearest TABIKA KEMAS; the selection committee sends its decision by the fourth week of November at the latest.
TABIKA Perpaduan: for Malaysian children aged 4 to 6, with priority for 5- and 6-year-olds and for families living or working within 10 km. Apply at the district JPNIN office, online, or through the TABIKA itself.

Source: MyGovernment, Pendidikan Awal Kanak-kanak, read 2026-10-14.

Help with fees

Private centres set their own fees, so ask each centre.

Tax relief: LHDN's list for the 2025 year of assessment includes relief of up to RM3,000 for child care fees paid to a registered child care centre or kindergarten, for a child aged 6 years and below.
Government aid listed by MyGovernment: KPM preschool aid for classes in government and government-aided schools; for TABIKA and TASKA Perpaduan, extra food, books, starter kits, per-pupil grants and group accident insurance; and for TABIKA KEMAS, a fee subsidy, per-pupil grants and an extra food programme.
Children with special needs: KPM's allowance for pupils with special educational needs (EMBPK) is RM150 a month, for children holding an OKU card issued by JKM.

The Penang incentives above are for operators, not parents. MyGovernment's early education aid page lists no fee subsidy for private TASKA or tadika.

Sources: LHDN, Tax Relief and MyGovernment, Bantuan Pendidikan Awal Kanak-kanak, read 2026-10-14.