Introduction
On average, two children below the age of 18 went missing in Malaysia every day from 2021 to 2023. According to Bukit Aman Sexual, Women and Child Investigation Division chief assistant director Siti Kamsiah Hassan, between 2021 and 2023, the police solved 95.56% of the 2,275 cases of missing children.
NUR Alert
The National Urgent Response (NUR) Alert system is Malaysia’s official platform for reporting and disseminating information regarding missing children under 12. When a child goes missing, Nur Alert allows concerned parents, citizens, and authorities to share crucial information. This collaborative effort is essential to raise the likelihood of the missing child’s timely return.
Step 1
Visit the Portal Rasmi Kanak-Kanak Hilang (https://knk2hilang.rmp.gov.my/Home/Main) and look for the “Kanak-Kanak Hilang Terkini” section. Scroll left or right and select the missing child that you may have information about to report online.
Step 2
Check the box underneath the picture, next to “Saya mempunyai maklumat tentang orang hilang tersebut”.
Step 3
Enter the necessary information. Once you have filled in the relevant information, click the “Hantar” button as shown below to send the information to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM).
Unsolved Mysteries
There are several high-profile cases of Malaysian children disappearing over the decades, with several victims still missing to this day.
1. Sharlinie Mohd Nashar
It was reported that on 9 January 2008, the eight-year-old Sharlinie went to a playground just 200 metres from her house. Accompanied by her sister, the siblings played together for 30 minutes, until around 11:30 a.m. Later that day, the sister returned home and told the family she had lost track of Sharlinie. The family called the police after hours of fruitless searching. The police launched a large-scale search to trace Sharlinie’s whereabouts, but she was not found.
2. Satishkumar Tamilvanan
Five-year-old Satishkumar went missing at Kawasan Jalan Permatang Pauh, Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang on 8 August 2012. He had followed his father, a truck driver, and grandfather to a Bukit Mertajam food court. Sathishkumar asked his father for money to buy sweets. After this, they all went on their way. Both the father and the grandfather assumed the other was looking after Satishkumar. When the two men met up to leave, they noticed that Satishkumar was not with either of them. Satishkumar has not been seen since then and is still missing today.
3. Low Min You
Low Min You, a three-year-old toddler, was reported missing after his father left him in the car with the engine running while he went to the toilet at a petrol station in Kampung Air at around 5.50 am on 8 May 2014. The car was found several hours later at Signal Hill, some 2.5km from where it was taken, but Min You was not in it.
Conclusion
The issue of missing children in Malaysia remains a significant concern. While the high-resolution rate of 95.56% underscores the effectiveness of Malaysia’s law enforcement and community efforts, facilitated in part by the NUR Alert system, some cases remain unresolved. These cases highlight ongoing challenges in protecting young lives and underscore the urgent need for proactive measures.
