1,649 missing children cases in 2007
The Star (21/5/08): More than half of the 242 children reported missing between January and March this year are still lost according to police statistics, Deputy Women, Family and Community Minister Noriah Kasnon said.
Replying to an oral question by Nancy Shukri (BN-Batang Sadong), Noriah said there were 1,649 cases of missing children reported last year.
"The ministry is serious about such cases and have taken numerous steps to tackle the issue," she said.
Noriah said of the 1,649 cases in 2007, 86% were from the 14-17 age group and that there was a high possibility that they ran away on their own.
"It also cannot be denied that the number of cases may actually be higher than what is reported because families may be embarrassed about reporting such cases."
Noriah said some families may be worried about what action could be taken against them for losing their child, or maybe their child ran away with a boyfriend or because the child broke the law.
To a supplementary question, Noriah said research had not been done on where runaway cases happened most often but cited that between 2005-2007, the most cases reported came from Kedah, accounting for 16% of the almost 5,000 cases reported.
Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof (PAS-Rantau Panjang) also asked Noriah what kind of action had been taken to educate children in the 14-17 age group as most of them would be of schoolgoing age.
To this, Noriah said the ministry had set up "protector teams" (pasukan pelindung) and welfare committees at the district level to carry out awareness programmes.
"There are 131 teams and 110 committees in the country who together with grassroot leaders will go to schools to talk to the children about outside influences," she said.
Noriah however said that parents had to play their role in ensuring the safety of their children.
She added that family education programmes to teach parents the importance of managing money, emotions and responsibility had also been carried out between 2003 and 2007 where 201,172 participants had taken part.
Replying to an oral question by Nancy Shukri (BN-Batang Sadong), Noriah said there were 1,649 cases of missing children reported last year.
"The ministry is serious about such cases and have taken numerous steps to tackle the issue," she said.
Noriah said of the 1,649 cases in 2007, 86% were from the 14-17 age group and that there was a high possibility that they ran away on their own.
"It also cannot be denied that the number of cases may actually be higher than what is reported because families may be embarrassed about reporting such cases."
Noriah said some families may be worried about what action could be taken against them for losing their child, or maybe their child ran away with a boyfriend or because the child broke the law.
To a supplementary question, Noriah said research had not been done on where runaway cases happened most often but cited that between 2005-2007, the most cases reported came from Kedah, accounting for 16% of the almost 5,000 cases reported.
Siti Zailah Mohd Yusof (PAS-Rantau Panjang) also asked Noriah what kind of action had been taken to educate children in the 14-17 age group as most of them would be of schoolgoing age.
To this, Noriah said the ministry had set up "protector teams" (pasukan pelindung) and welfare committees at the district level to carry out awareness programmes.
"There are 131 teams and 110 committees in the country who together with grassroot leaders will go to schools to talk to the children about outside influences," she said.
Noriah however said that parents had to play their role in ensuring the safety of their children.
She added that family education programmes to teach parents the importance of managing money, emotions and responsibility had also been carried out between 2003 and 2007 where 201,172 participants had taken part.
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