PETALING JAYA: Following the rescue of six-year-old Albertine Leo Jia Hui, an activist has proposed various safety measures to reduce the risk of young children going missing.
Paediatrician and child disability activist Datuk Dr Amar Singh said it is vital that adults, parents and guardians closely supervise children in their care at all times.
“Parents should always hold hands with preschool children or use a safety device that links them to the child.
"This could be an adjustable wristband harness or a toddler chest harness.
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“Some people frown on these devices but parents who have used them will attest to their value,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (July 24).
He said some parents also invest in GPS trackers attached to children’s clothing or in wristbands.
“Some devices also have a built-in SOS button which young kids can press when in a dangerous situation,” he said.
He strongly recommended that parents avoid using their phones when out with their children.
“This distracts them from (looking after) the child,” he said.
Dr Amar stressed the importance of training children by the age of two to three years to be aware of the danger of strangers and that they should never speak to or follow them.
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“Children aged four to five should be taught their name, address, parents' names, and a phone number.
“It is useful to have this information on the child's person that they can show others,” he said.
He said parents should educate or role-play with children what to do if they are lost or cannot find their parents in a busy environment like a shopping mall.
“Teach them to approach the staff at the checkout or payment counter to ask for help,” he said, adding that a preschool programme to train children on safety would be good.
Dr Amar advised parents to keep updated photos of their children for identification purposes and to also be aware of emergency hotlines.
“While we hope and pray this never happens to us, doing some reflection and reading about it makes us more prepared to prevent it and act immediately when needed.
"The public should act if they see a young child wandering unattended and work to find the parents urgently,” he added.
He also cited the Missing Children Portal and Nur Alert System handled by the police.
“Bringing up a child in these difficult times is not easy. Society can support parents with our vigilance, while we look to the authorities to improve safety,” he said.
On Saturday (July 21), Albertine Leo went missing during an event at Eco Galleria, Iskandar Puteri in Johor.
Her 37-year-old mother was one of the booth operators at the event, which drew a large crowd.
Albertine was later found safe at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor, some 370km from where she was last seen, on Tuesday (July 23).
Police also arrested a 31-year-old man who was in the same budget hotel room as Albertine during a 4.30am raid.
Four suspects, two men and two women aged 28 to 55, were also arrested in Iskandar Puteri and Johor Baru on Monday (July 22).
