Forum: Young children in dysfunctional families face high risks

The physical and mental abuse Megan Khung suffered has left Singaporeans reeling over how this could have happened here.

It has highlighted the risks that young children in dysfunctional families face (The Megan Khung report was painful to read, but offers hard lessons to prevent another tragedy, Oct 24).

All new parents struggle in varying degrees in their new role.

As a first-time mother to an active toddler, I know how hard it is to raise a child. The responsibilities can feel overwhelming.

In Megan’s case, her dire family circumstances, with drug-taking by those supposedly in charge of her welfare, stacked the odds heavily against her.

Her plight raises troubling questions about other vulnerable children from dysfunctional families in our midst.

For instance, can it be that neighbours were unaware of Megan’s cries of distress?

The hope is that the horrors of this case would make us think twice about turning a blind eye to evident signs of trouble and consider the potential costs of apathy.

ShuQi Liu