Tuesday January 22, 2013

Let’s work on bringing little lost William home safe

THE STAR SAYS

A little boy lost in the big city. Where could William Yau Zhen Zhong, barely six years of age, be? He is 110cm tall and has a scar on the left side of his forehead, and he has been missing since last Wednes-day.

Our hearts reach out in hope. Our hearts beat in solidarity with his parents and loved ones.

Now is not the time for acrimony or self-righteous sanctimony. Now is not the time to point fingers and add to the grief of his loved ones. And now is certainly not the time to abuse the helplines with false tips and hurtful remarks.

Our focus must be on finding William. And it is a credit to both the public and private sectors that they have all risen to the occasion to help in the search.

The social media has been abuzz since the case went viral, and we can expect Netizens to play a key role in mobilising resources.

The National Urgent Response (NUR) Alert for missing children has been triggered nationwide. The Health Ministry and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission have the necessary information on their portals.

Even political parties are doing their part; the MCA has mobilised its members to help in the search, and Wanita Umno is getting members to post posters of the boy in public places.

And credit must go to corporate citizens like RHB Bank which took out advertisements in the media to urge Malaysians to unite in helping to find the boy.

But above and beyond all that, we the ordinary citizens, can be the eyes and ears of the authorities.

It was somewhere in Puchong that he went missing but the net needs to be cast wider. It is, after all, much easier to move a little child around than an adult. So all of us, wherever we may be, need to be sensitive to the possibility that this little child may show up where he is least expected.

We can listen for careless whispers that may lead police to his whereabouts.

It is our fervent hope that William will be found before it is too late. And we all pray, whatever our faiths, for a miracle. That this little boy will be found and reunited with his family.

News

Tuesday January 22, 2013

Let’s work on bringing little lost William home safe

THE STAR SAYS