Malaysia’s Missing Children Cases Have Doubled Since 2021: What You Need To Know
The NUR Alert portal shows records of missing children dating back as far as 2020.
- Missing children cases in Malaysia have doubled since 2021, with teenagers aged 13 to 15 being the most vulnerable group.
- If your child goes missing, lodge a police report immediately as no 24-hour waiting period is required.
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The number of missing children in Malaysia has doubled since 2021, based on the latest data from Bukit Aman.
In January this year alone, the New Straits Times reported that 98 cases were lodged. According to Bukit Aman, teenagers are the most vulnerable group, with 13 to 15-year-olds accounting for the highest number of cases at 2,507. Meanwhile, children under the age of six recorded the lowest number of disappearances with 73 cases.
A look at the official NUR Alert portal showed that there are over 300 children and teenagers missing. Some children, including non-Malaysian children, have been missing since 2020.
While the numbers look bad, Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division (D11) principal assistant director Siti Kamsiah Hassan, said the recovery rate remained encouraging.
Of the 4,655 total cases tracked, 4,261 victims were found alive and reunited with their families, while 20 were found dead. The remaining 374 cases are still unresolved, involving victims believed to be lost at sea or in forests, or who may have fallen victim to criminal activity.
Overall, just 1% of cases remain unsolved. In these cases, no one knows what happened to the missing children because there were no notes, no signs of family problems, and no clues explaining why they disappeared.
What are the primary factors behind disappearances?
The police identified six primary factors explaining the reason for children disappearing. In 75% of the total cases, the reasons are:
- Children running away from home
- Escaping from caretakers
- Running away from schools or shelters
- Falling prey to crime
- Getting lost in the wilderness
- And other environmental factors
The most common scenario involved children running away from home and returning on their own the next day or within a week.
What to do if your child goes missing in Malaysia?
If your child has gone missing, act immediately and lodge a police report. There’s no 24-hour waiting period required to file a report.
In 2024, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said officers must accept missing persons reports immediately, without waiting the usual 24 hours, since prompt reporting is essential for search efforts to begin quickly.
You can lodge a report in person at the nearest police station or call 999 and ask the officer about activating the NUR Alert (National Urgent Response Alert) system for children under 12.
Under Section 107(4) of the Criminal Procedure Code, the police is legally required to receive information regarding any offense or emergency. If the officer refuses to take your report, ask to speak directly with the Station Chief (Ketua Balai). If the officer continues to refuse to take the report, the next step is to go to the district police headquarters (IPD) as they are obligated to take the report regardless of where the incident occurred. The final escalation step is to head over to Bukit Aman.
What to do if you have information on the missing child?
Community support is essential in helping to look for missing children. Members of the public can head over to the official NUR Alert portal here and check active missing children cases.
If you have information regarding any of the missing children, click on the child’s picture and check the “Saya mempunyai maklumat tentang orang hilang tersebut” box underneath the picture (circled in red in the picture below). This will bring you to a page where you can fill in the relevant details. Once done, click the “Hantar” button to send the information to the police.
Some precautions to lessen cases of missing children
Children run away or go missing for a number of reasons. Parents are advised to keep an eye on their children, especially in public and crowded areas. It also helps to monitor their child’s online use in case they are pulled into scams and crime rings, child grooming situations, or being cyberbullied. As usual, parents should teach children the essential contact details like their full names, home address, and parents’ phone numbers.
While parents are told to teach their children about “stranger danger,” it’s unfortunate that data showed that most crimes against children are committed by people the child knows. This isn’t meant to cast suspicion on everyone in a child’s life, but it’s worth keeping in mind. To help children navigate this tricky area, it’s good to help them identify safe adults like police officers, security guards, store cashiers, or store staff, for help if they ever get lost.
As an added precaution, some families set up a code word. A code word is a secret word or phrase known only to parents and their children. It helps children verify whether an unfamiliar adult genuinely has permission to pick them up. If a stranger claims they’ve been sent to collect the child but doesn’t know the code word, children are advised to run away and yell for help.
Additionally, it’s good to have updated photos of your child and it’s better if it’s a photo showing an accurate record of their outfit of the day. These pictures can help when a missing children’s search is launched.
If you need help or someone to talk to, here’s a list of helplines:
Mental Health Psychosocial Support Service
Tel: 03-2935 9935 or 014-322 3392
Talian Kasih
Tel: 15999 or Whatsapp 019-2615999
Befrienders KL
Tel: 03-7627 2929
Website: www.befrienders.org.my/centre-in-malaysia
Talian Buddy Bear (For children, toll-free, 6pm-12am)
Tel: 1800-18-BEAR or 1800-18-2327
FB Messenger: buddybear.humankind
MySejahtera Digital Healthcare
In the app, click “Health Screenings” and then select ‘MyMinda.’
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