PETALING JAYA: The rising number of missing children is a serious concern that requires urgent and coordinated action, says Alliance For A Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye (pic).
He said every missing child represents a potential tragedy, posing risks not only for the child but also for their family and the wider community.
"While some cases involve runaways, others may be linked to abduction, trafficking, exploitation, or criminal activities," he said.
"Addressing this issue effectively demands a multifaceted approach involving parents, schools, law enforcement, and society as a whole," he added.
Lee proposed five key measures to address the issue, including strengthening preventive measures and enhancing law enforcement response.
He also called for imposing strict regulations on child exploitation and trafficking, increasing public awareness and community engagement, and improving data collection and research.
"Parents and guardians must be vigilant in monitoring their children’s activities, both online and offline," he said.
Schools should conduct awareness programmes to educate students about personal safety and the dangers of following strangers.
A centralised missing children database should be maintained and updated regularly to assist investigations.
Law enforcement agencies must have specialised units to handle missing children cases with urgency and expertise.
Stronger laws and enforcement against human trafficking and child exploitation must be prioritised.
The public must be encouraged to report suspicious activities or individuals who may pose a risk to children.
Collaboration between authorities, NGOs, and the media is essential to create greater awareness and to disseminate information quickly in missing child cases.
Comprehensive data on missing children cases should be collected to analyse patterns and identify high-risk factors.
Research on the root causes of children going missing, such as family issues, abuse, or exploitation, must guide policy changes.
He urged the government, law enforcement agencies, schools, and the community to work together in implementing these measures.
"The safety of our children must be a national priority. Every missing child deserves our collective effort to ensure their safe return and to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," he said.
