THE existence of several cases of missing children in our neighbourhoods should prompt us to tackle the growing issue of child safety more aggressively.

The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation calls on all witnesses to the abduction of Sharlinie Mohd Nashar to come forward and help the police to nab the suspect or suspects.

The entire nation cannot be unconcerned about these missing children. The brutal killing of innocent children in the past such as Nurin Jazlin Jazimin had touched the social conscience of all Malaysians.

It is so sad that the world we live in is no longer safe for our children. It is high time for the entire nation — law enforcement agencies, voluntary organisations, parents and the public at large — to work with one mind to address the issue of safety for children.

Every Malaysian must be committed to the greater protection of children and provide better care for them.

As charity begins at home, parents must exercise greater responsibility for the safety of their children.

Parents need to keep a closer watch on their children, irrespective of where they are, especially when they are outside their homes, at playgrounds or elsewhere.

Parents should also embark on continuous efforts to teach and educate their young children to be vigilant, not to befriend strangers, be assertive and streetwise.

They must teach their children safe and proper behaviour and how to deal with the many real dangers in the environment around them.

Schools should also play an important role to teach children to be safety conscious. In this connection, it may be timely for the Education Ministry to introduce and implement a special child-safety programme where students can be given additional knowledge about their personal safety and be taught how to make themselves safe from predators.

I also wish to suggest the formation of Child Watch, comprising government and non-government officials, which can help keep a closer watch on the safety of children and work closely with the law enforcement agencies for the protection of children.

A better tracking system of perpetrators of crimes against children must be devised so that they can be brought to justice. Punishment commensurate with the crime must be meted out to them.

Efforts to make public places safer, especially for children, must be actively pursued with the fullest participation of law enforcement bodies, non-governmental organisations and the community at large.

TAN SRI LEE LAM THYE Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation

Source: NST – January 15, 2008