Letter of the week: A need to step up collectively to protect the young and helpless

I read with horror and sadness the article “Couple abused 4-year-old girl for more than a year, burned her body after she died” (Feb 28).

I would like to ask if more could have been done to save Megan and prevent her abuse and eventual death.

The article noted that the staff at Megan’s pre-school had “noticed bruises on her face, arms and feet” and “told the couple that any abuse would be referred to the Ministry of Social and Family Development”.

Instead of just a warning, should the pre-school not have reported it immediately? Subsequently, when Megan was withdrawn from the school in September 2019, should the school not have followed up or sought assistance from the relevant ministry to check on Megan and ascertain if she was well, given that staff had previously noticed signs of abuse?

In such instances, when young children have no other ways to seek help or protection from the adults who are abusing them, our pre-schools and the government agencies involved in the pre-school sector have to step up and be more vigilant to protect them.

The article also reported that a crying Megan was paraded in public. As members of the public or as neighbours, we too must exercise our initiative to intervene or report matters if we see young children being punished unduly or ill-treated excessively.

Singapore and its citizens may take pride that our country’s GDP per capita is one of the highest globally, but if the young, weak and helpless like Megan are not protected by us collectively, we would have failed as a society. 

Adrian Foo Qijing