TO help prevent children from running away, childcare institutions should conduct regular crime prevention training for their staff, says Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Assoc Prof Dr Geshina Ayu Mat Saat (pic).
Geshina, who is also a criminologist and psychologist, said such training would help those working with children in schools, tuition centres, daycare facilities, orphanages and other institutions recognise early warning signs.
“Teachers, caregivers and guardians should be trained to identify indicators of emotional distress, abuse or behaviour suggesting a child may be considering running away,” she told StarEdu.
Her comments follow StarEdu’s June 21 cover story, which highlighted that running away from home, school or shelters, as well as falling victim to crime, were among the key factors behind the worrying rise in missing children cases in Malaysia over the past five years.
According to the latest data from Bukit Aman, 1,219 missing children cases were reported last year, more than double the 594 cases recorded in 2021.
The trend has continued this year, with 98 cases reported in January alone.
The federal police headquarters identified teenagers as the most vulnerable group, with children aged 13 to 15 accounting for the highest number of cases over the past five years at 2,507, based on media reports on May 9.
Geshina, whose USM research group conducted a study on missing children cases in Selangor in 2007, stressed that educational institutions should no longer view children who run away simply as disciplinary problems, but as individuals who may be experiencing distress, abuse, neglect or other vulnerabilities that require early intervention.
“Malaysia’s schools and welfare institutions must move from reactive discipline to proactive protection by integrating mental health support, child safety policies and community vigilance into everyday practice.
“This multi-layered approach is essential to reducing the risk of children running away or being abducted,” she said.
Early safeguards
Beyond institutional reforms, Geshina said children should be taught personal safety from an early age.
“They need to be alert to their surroundings, understand what to do if approached by potential abductors and know where to seek help,” she said.
She also urged parents and teachers to become more familiar with children’s social circles, including both peers and older acquaintances, as these relationships may influence their behaviour.
Equally important is parenting style, she said, warning that permissive, neglectful or apathetic parenting may increase children’s vulnerability to manipulation or exploitation by others.
Instead, she advocated parenting approaches that foster positive attitudes, emotional resilience and healthy family relationships.
She also stressed the need to strengthen physical security both in institutions and at home.
“Schools, welfare institutions and homes must limit access to outsiders and ensure child- ren are supervised appropriately.
“Simple measures, such as keeping school premises, homes and gates secure, can reduce opportunities for crime,” she said.
Digital vigilance
Besides physical safety, online safety is a key concern.
Geshina said one of today’s biggest challenges lies in the digital world.
She noted that compared with a decade ago, adolescents now face far greater exposure to social media, online influencers and anonymous digital spaces that can normalise rebellion, encourage risky behaviour or expose children to grooming and exploitation.
“Schools, parents and caregivers must become more digitally literate to recognise predatory online behaviour and guide children in navigating social media safely.
“What once stayed within school corridors or neighbourhood circles is now amplified across platforms, shaping how adolescents see themselves and others,” she said.
She warned that adolescents can now “disappear” into gaming platforms, anonymous chatrooms and encrypted messaging applications where adult oversight is limited.
“Everyone shares responsi- bility,” she said, adding that when adults recognise warning signs early, maintain safe environments and build trusting relationships with children, they stand a better chance of preventing them from going missing in the first place.
