SHAH ALAM, June 30 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) logged 4,557 cases of missing children between 2021 and 2025, with the figure rising each year except in 2023.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said 594 cases were recorded in 2021, 903 in 2022, 778 in 2023, 1,063 in 2024, and 1,219 in 2025.
Each report of a missing child is classified as a missing persons case, which allows tracking and investigation to be carried out without delay.
He said PDRM also cooperates with various agencies such as the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM), the Social Welfare Department (JKM), the Immigration Department, schools, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the media to trace and rescue children reported missing.
“Digital platforms (are also used) … to disseminate missing persons’ information and expand public outreach to expedite tracking through the missing children announcement portal, accessible via the official PDRM website,” he said in a written parliamentary reply yesterday.
Saifuddin was responding to a question from Zahari Kechik (PN-Jeli) on the Home Ministry’s efforts to address increasing cases of missing children.
The minister said other measures include continued public advocacy and awareness programmes on child safety, the risks of running away from home, online exploitation, social media influence, and the importance of parental and guardian supervision.
“The role of PDRM’s school liaison officers (that) focus on schoolchildren has also been enhanced,” he added.
Saifuddin said the ministry has also enhanced the monitoring of repeat cases and identified key factors in missing children cases, including family conflict, peer influence, emotional problems, sexual exploitation, uncontrolled use of social media, and tendencies to run away from home or care institutions.
