Chin Swee Road death: Disconcerting that toddler’s absence went undetected for 5 years

I was horrified and heartbroken by news of the discovery of a toddler’s remains in a Chin Swee Road flat last week. She was allegedly murdered by her parents in 2014.

What is more disconcerting is that the absence of the child had been undetected institutionally for the past five years.  

One would have assumed that red flags would be raised by the police or Central Narcotics Bureau when preparing to convict the couple of their drug offences and other criminal activities.

Or by the Health Ministry when vaccinations of the child were discontinued, and finally, the Education Ministry when the child was to have reached schooling age under the Compulsory Education Act. 

While voluntary and community organisations, relatives and neighbours can serve as eyes on the ground, they are neither structured nor equipped with the information and resources for such administrative monitoring of children’s welfare.

While I understand that the case is still being investigated, it is tragically evident that this toddler had fallen through the cracks of our system.

Instead of viewing the matter as falling within the remit of the Social and Family Development Ministry, this case reveals the urgent need for otherwise separate government agencies to tighten their processes and co-ordination when it comes to handling vulnerable families and children.

Doing justice for this toddler goes beyond punishing the culprits.

There is a saying that “it takes a village to raise a child”. The same goes for watching and protecting our children.

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