We miss you William. We will remember you : MALAYSIA, NO LONGER SAFE

Our children are the most precious things in our lives. I am deeply upset learning about the death of William Yau Zhen Zhong. My heart goes out to his parents, I pray they find the strength to carry on in this difficult time.

Things are not fine when a six-year-old dies tragically like this, more so when it is far from being the first case of its kind.

Who cannot remember the heartrending saga of 5-year-old Nurin Jazlin, who went missing in 2008, and whose body was found in a sports bag a month later, emaciated, battered and showing the marks of sexual assault with a foreign object -- so violent that it had seriously damaged her inner organs.

There have been other cases where young children survived rape, and have to live the rest of their lives scarred by the trauma.

Those who disappeared without a trace

Hardly less haunting for the affected parents are the cases where young children have disappeared from their schools or neighbourhoods, and have never been traced; among them, Tin Song Shen, who disappeared in Klang 17 long years ago, and Sharlinie Mohamad Nashar, who disappeared not long after the body of Nurin was discovered. One can only imagine the agonising thoughts endlessly playing on the hearts and minds of their parents.

I am among the Malaysians who are upset that we, as fellow citizens, allowed something like this to happen in our midst. We must take collective responsibility whenever any child is in harm’s way. It is encouraging that so many, irrespective of political leanings, age and ethnicity, lent a hand via social media and also in the physical search for William, but the work is not complete.

Citizens, neighbours must play a more active role

Although the task of tracking down lost children is usually spearheaded by police and search and rescue personnel, citizens, and especially neighbours, play a vital role in the first crucial 24 hours, by their observation and prompt reporting of any suspicious incidents or behaviour of individuals whether known or unknown. In this way the search operations can start immediately and be accurately focussed, significantly improving the chances of success.

Vigilance - community-driven vigilance - is the best way to ensure all our children are safe all the time. It should not be that we feel responsible only for our own families, and leave to others to look after theirs alone. There is a multitude of threats and innumerable access points, such that, for all our children to be safe, all families have to help one other. This was the traditional way practised in villages, and we must find ways to make it work in urban centres, too.

Malaysia is no longer safe

From domestic violence to human trafficking, there are various players and signs of impropriety. If we act and respond to the signs and to our own observations, and urge the relevant authorities to intercede early and incisively, there is every chance of avoiding the next child victim.

It takes a village to raise a child, but more immediately we must remember and take to heart that it also takes a village to protect a child. Let us resolve to be that village that cares, that keeps all our children safe.

We miss you William. We will remember you.

DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

PRESIDENT, PARTI KEADILAN RAKYAT