Cover Six-year-old Albertine Leo who went missing at a mall in Iskandar Puteri, Johor over the weekend was found over 300km away in Selangor on Monday
Six-year-old Albertine Leo who went missing at a mall in Iskandar Puteri, Johor over the weekend was found over 300km away in Selangor on Monday
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The six-year-old who went missing at a mall in Iskandar Puteri, Johor over the weekend was found over 300km away in Selangor on Monday
“About 120cm tall. Long black hair. Last seen wearing a white Mickey Mouse t-shirt.”
I first learned about Albertine Leo’s disappearance through an Instagram post by motherhood and parenting platform, Makchic, over the weekend. Within an hour, the post and other similar alerts were disseminated far and wide by concerned netizens on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. Images of the bright-eyed little girl in a missing person poster struck a horrible feeling in my gut.
While many of us are used to seeing gritty news headlines of crime and tragedy today, missing child cases still hit at something raw and painful within us all–sparking a collective call to protect society’s most vulnerable.
On the Monday after Leo’s disappearance, the police issued a National Urgent Response (NUR) Alert, which spreads information related to missing children under the age of 12. Across the nation, Malaysians voiced their concern for the little girl’s disappearance, from Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi to a cafe owner at Eco Galleria shopping mall (where Leo was last seen), who offered a reward of RM10,000 to anyone who could find the missing child.
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On July 23, just two days after she went missing, Leo was found safe and unharmed at a budget hotel in Batang Kali, Selangor. She was sent to a local hospital for medical checkups while the police arrested the 31-year-old male suspect who was found with her.
According to Johor police chief YDH CP Tuan M Kumar A/L S Muthuvelu, the police are probing Leo’s case under Section 365 of the Penal Code for kidnapping or abducting with the intent of secretly and wrongfully confining a person. It is also being probed under Section 14(a) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017 for touching a child’s body for a sexual purpose.
“Protecting minors in urban areas takes a community effort and a bit of extra awareness,” shares Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences associate professor Prof. Dr Phaik Kin Cheah. “In Albertine’s case, the rapid dissemination of her information spurred a massive, coordinated search effort that significantly increased our chances of finding her quickly. Social media was put to good use to serve as a crucial tool for immediate, community-wide mobilisation in this situation.”
“From a situational crime prevention perspective, social media effectively increased the perceived risk for the offender by maximising public awareness and vigilance,” adds Cheah, who is also a lance corporal with the Royal Malaysia Police Volunteer Reserve. “By rapidly spreading the information about Albertine’s disappearance, social media created an environment where many eyes were watching, thereby making it much more difficult for the offender to operate without being noticed.”
“The heightened awareness and continuous updates kept the community engaged and alert, reducing the likelihood that the offender could evade detection and continue their criminal activities.”
As a police officer and a single mum of two, Cheah acknowledges the enormous challenges faced by working parents today, in particular, the struggle to protect your child’s safety in public areas.
She advises parents to have regular and open discussions with their children about safety, reminding them about the importance of not talking to strangers, having a plan for emergencies, and knowing who they can trust in their community.
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“Establishing trusted contacts, like neighbours and friends, who can step in if needed, is also essential,” Cheah says. “In my personal experience as a working single mother, I understand how challenging it can be to manage work and family life. There have been times when I have needed to bring my children with me on work trips. In such situations, being selective about activities and places we visit is crucial to ensuring their safety. It often involves making difficult decisions and sometimes forgoing opportunities to prioritise their well-being. I also want to acknowledge that everyone's situation is different–I’m fortunate to have the luxury to make certain choices, and I understand that not all parents may have the same options.”
The importance of community awareness is more relevant than ever because all of us–from parents looking out for other people’s kids to by-passers who notice something amiss–have a role to play in the safety of vulnerable young girls and boys.
Having dealt with numerous missing persons cases before, Cheah shares some practical advice for members of the public to be more aware and alert in keeping our cities, neighbourhoods and public spaces safe for children.
If your child goes missing in a crowded area
Above The rapid dissemination of Albertine’s missing persons profile on social media spurred a massive, coordinated search effort for her (Photo: Unsplash)
The rapid dissemination of Albertine’s missing persons profile on social media spurred a massive, coordinated search effort for her (Photo: Unsplash)
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“Our response is crucial when dealing with such emergencies. Every minute, if not every second, counts. Stay calm and focus effectively on what needs to be done. If you’re at a place with a public announcement system, like an event or a mall, use it immediately. The child could still be nearby, and alerting everyone, including security and staff, increases the chances of finding them quickly, especially in indoor places where exits can be monitored, and CCTVs can track movements.”
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“Also, make a police report as soon as possible. Police officers on patrol can then be on the lookout and start searching immediately. If the child is found, a good samaritan might take them to the nearest police station, and having a report already filed means parents can be notified immediately. Staying composed and acting quickly by notifying the authorities maximises the chances of a safe and swift resolution.”
Noticing strangers with suspicious behaviour
Above Alerting younger children to safe spaces in crowded urban areas can reduce the risk of kidnapping, says Dr Phaik Kin Cheah (Photo: Unsplash)
Alerting younger children to safe spaces in crowded urban areas can reduce the risk of kidnapping, says Dr Phaik Kin Cheah (Photo: Unsplash)
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“I remember a time when my daughter was waiting for me to pick her up from school. She noticed a suspicious-looking man nearby and quickly walked over to join her friend whose mother was walking with her. This way, it looked like she had already been picked up by a parent. Her friend’s mother later reported the incident to the school’s principal.
Increasing the perceived risk for potential perpetrators is a key strategy here. Just like investing in visible security measures can deter burglars, creating a vigilant community can deter those who might harm children. Regular community patrols and watch groups are effective because they increase the chances of detecting suspicious activities. This heightened surveillance makes the environment less appealing to potential offenders because they know they’re being watched.
Being connected and vigilant
“We as a community, must do our part to take care not only of ourselves but others as well. If everyone does this, then the risk is lowered. For example, we stay observant and report anything suspicious immediately. We can get our neighbours’ contacts and update them if anything unusual is going on in our neighbourhood. Even when we’re busy, practicing these habits daily helps us stay prepared and keep our children safe.
Organising regular patrols in neighbourhoods can significantly increase the perceived risk for criminals, making them think twice before acting. Teaching children to identify safe spots, such as information desks or security personnel in crowded places, can also help in emergencies.”
While there are still risks despite our best efforts, these proactive measures can greatly reduce the chances of something happening. It’s all about working together and staying vigilant, even in our busy lives.”
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
