When the remains of three-year-old Nur Aisyah Aleya Abdullah were found dumped in a ravine in Langkawi, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said, “Something is wrong with our society for someone to abandon (the child) just like that, when faced with a problem or in a panicked state.”
To be fair to Wan Azizah, she was probably making a rhetorical comment. But as deputy prime minister, she should have solutions to heal our society instead of only stating the obvious.
She has the resources, the manpower and the clout to move people to seek solutions. Writers, reporters, activists and the general public can only do so much. We can continue to highlight and bring issues to the attention of the public, but our efforts are limited.
Only Nur Aisyah Aleya’s skull and some of her hair has actually been found. What has happened to our sense of right and wrong? The couple linked to her death claims that she suffered seizures while being bathed. But no one would blame them for her death unless they left her unattended and she drowned in the bath.
They could have phoned the emergency services, but instead they were said to have stuffed her in a bag and dumped her in the ravine.
Their story is very patchy and there is likely more to it than we have been told.
Nur Aisyah Aleya, who was placed in the care of this couple, had been reported missing since Sunday. Her mother went to look for her but was told that a third party was looking after her.
Perhaps her mother was unable to care for her because she worked full-time. But whatever the reason, she was probably horrified to learn that her daughter had been sent to someone else, as if it was a game of pass-the-parcel.
The deputy prime minister should come down hard on child minders and baby-sitters. Those who take care of babies or children should be registered, with their details and backgrounds scrutinised by the police.
The little girl’s death is a symptom of something more serious amiss in our society. There is no longer a sense of values, and our family units are all but broken. Our understanding of right and wrong has been usurped by corrupt leaders, and we chase money, material goods, positions and power to the detriment of morals, honesty and integrity.
The deputy prime minister is in an excellent position to make things happen. Her deputy in the women, family and development ministry, Hannah Yeoh, is a tireless fighter and a hard worker whose work ethic and approach to difficult challenges has been admirable.
The system is broken, and we need more education to repair it. We need to go back to the basics to mend our broken society.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.