More need to be done to protect children & young people from crime
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) – The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) calls for greater efforts by the government, relevant organisations and all Malaysians, particularly parents to do more to protect children and young people from crime, violence and all forms of abuse.
“Crime and violence against children and young people are quite rampant today. Over the years there has been numerous missing children cases. All this goes to show that we must never take the safety of these young people for granted,” said MCPF vice chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said the time has come for the government to launch a nationwide movement for child protection and safety, involving all strata of society.
In a statement here yesterday, Lee said Malaysia need to do more to protect children from heinous criminal acts such as kidnap, assault, abuse, sodomy, rape and even murder.
He said protecting children from despicable criminal acts and all forms of abuse was the responsibility of all and not just the duty of the authorities concerned to protect children.
Lee opined that the protection of children must start from the parents and at home adding that parents must never neglect their responsibility to show care and love for their children.
“They need to teach their children how to respond to potentially dangerous situation,” he said
Lee advised parents and guardians of children to be vigilant and alert to ensure the optimum safety of children under their care and must be taught to be suspicious of strangers all the time and not to be lured by people unknown to them.
Lee strongly advocated that child safety education must be emphasised in schools as innocent school children can prove to be most vulnerable, in the absence of safety education to criminals.
On the recent case where six-year old William Yau Zhen Zhong who went missing and ended in his tragic death, has touched the heart of every caring Malaysian, Lee said irrespective of the cause of death, Zhen Zhong’s needless death is totally unacceptable with his life snatched away so tragically.
