Missing Children LAW in Malaysia

(1) Categories of missing childrenMissing children cases are classified in two categories:

a) Disappearance under worrying circumstances. Includes running away from home.

b) Abduction or Kidnapping.Parental abduction is normally classified as ordinary missing persons cases, because in most cases they will be deals with by the courts. Police are just to make sure the child is safe and no criminal activities takes place.Statistics of missing persons of all ages are compiled.

(2) National regulationsNational legislation.

There is no specific law in Malaysia that governs the reporting and handling of cases of missing children.However, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) make inquiries on missing person under section 3 and 20 of the Police Act.International texts.Malaysia is not signatory of the Hague Convention of 1993 on transborder parental abductions.

(3) Means of investigation

In Malaysia, the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) is responsible for investigation of missing persons cases. The RMP has two departments tasked with investigation of missing persons. The first one is tasked with investigating normal missing persons cases whereby the elements of crime has not been established. It is handled by the assistant director, public affairs division, management department, Royal Malaysia Police headquarters, Bukit Aman, 50560, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.When there are elements of crime, such as abduction or kidnapping, the investigation will be handled by the director criminal investigation department, Royal Malaysia Police headquarters, Bukit Aman, 50560 kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In Malaysia, cases of missing persons is dealt solely by the RMP. Reports of missing persons can be made at any police station in the country and will be immediately referred to the police station of the area where the incident has taken place. A complete information of each case will be disseminated to all police stations nationwide via the on-line computer system. Close monitoring will be made by the RMP headquarters.All information is stored in the central data bank at the RMP headquarters and it is also accessible by all police stations countrywide via the on-line system.

RMP have been getting the full support of various other government agencies, NGO's and private sectors. Although, they are not involved in the investigation process, they have been actively assisting in the tracing and preventive efforts such as making publicity, campaigns etc.From time to time, messages are conveyed through the local mass media such as radio, television, newspaper, public information kiosks at shopping malls and soon they will be circulated on the Internet via the RMP website.All kinds of information, including that of missing children can be given to the police via the police operation rooms located at all police districts, contingents (state) and federal headquarters. The telephone numbers of these operation rooms are disseminated to the general public from time to time.