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Monday, 16 July 2007
2007 07: Runaways run to Chong first
The Star online. News. Nation. Tuesday July 10, 2007
KUALA LUMPUR: Girls intending to run away from home are now going to Datuk Michael Chong first – and he is stumped with what they want him to do.
The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head said: “They tell me that they intend to run away from home on a particular date. They don’t want me to stop them but they request that I do not entertain their families’ pleas when they come to me to look for their ‘missing girls’.
“They want to run away quietly and want me to keep quiet as well,” he told reporters yesterday.
He said the girls usually wanted to leave home to be with their boyfriends after facing parental objections towards their relationships.
Chong said he advised these young girls to drop their plans.
However, he also urged parents not to be “too controlling”, adding that they should understand the youngsters’ need for attention and companionship.
“We may push it aside as puppy love but to the youngsters, the feelings are very real because they want someone to care and love them,” said Chong.
One such case involved 15-year-old Chai Kah Mun, who ran away from home three times to be with her boyfriend, who is of another race.
Acting on a tip-off, her frantic father, Chai Kam Yew, 44, found her in the boyfriend’s house in Pandan Indah last Thursday.
Chai, who also addressed reporters yesterday, said: “The boyfriend challenged me to search the house, saying that my daughter was not there. How my heart broke when I found her hiding under the bed.
“Worse, she did not want to follow me home although I promised that I would not send her to a welfare home that she ran away from,” said Chai, a chee cheong fun seller.
He had previously placed her in a home as he claimed she was “too demanding” – wanting to go out every day and seeking more freedom.
“I promised to allow her to continue the relationship once she turned 18. She asked that I allow her to go for tuition classes. I want to but I do not have enough money,” said Chai.
Kah Mun, who cried during the press conference, said she just wanted her father to allow her out of the house, and trust that she would be able to take care of herself.
“I don’t want to be locked up all the time,” said Kah Mun.
Chong acted as a mediator and obtained a promise from the father to allow Kah Mun out of the house twice a week.
He also urged Kah Mun to understand her father’s concern and financial difficulties.
“Here is an example of a vulnerable single-parent family trying its best not to crack from the everyday pressures of financial limitation, a generation gap and outside influences,” he said.
KUALA LUMPUR: Girls intending to run away from home are now going to Datuk Michael Chong first – and he is stumped with what they want him to do.
The MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head said: “They tell me that they intend to run away from home on a particular date. They don’t want me to stop them but they request that I do not entertain their families’ pleas when they come to me to look for their ‘missing girls’.
“They want to run away quietly and want me to keep quiet as well,” he told reporters yesterday.
He said the girls usually wanted to leave home to be with their boyfriends after facing parental objections towards their relationships.
Chong said he advised these young girls to drop their plans.
However, he also urged parents not to be “too controlling”, adding that they should understand the youngsters’ need for attention and companionship.
“We may push it aside as puppy love but to the youngsters, the feelings are very real because they want someone to care and love them,” said Chong.
One such case involved 15-year-old Chai Kah Mun, who ran away from home three times to be with her boyfriend, who is of another race.
Acting on a tip-off, her frantic father, Chai Kam Yew, 44, found her in the boyfriend’s house in Pandan Indah last Thursday.
Chai, who also addressed reporters yesterday, said: “The boyfriend challenged me to search the house, saying that my daughter was not there. How my heart broke when I found her hiding under the bed.
“Worse, she did not want to follow me home although I promised that I would not send her to a welfare home that she ran away from,” said Chai, a chee cheong fun seller.
He had previously placed her in a home as he claimed she was “too demanding” – wanting to go out every day and seeking more freedom.
“I promised to allow her to continue the relationship once she turned 18. She asked that I allow her to go for tuition classes. I want to but I do not have enough money,” said Chai.
Kah Mun, who cried during the press conference, said she just wanted her father to allow her out of the house, and trust that she would be able to take care of herself.
“I don’t want to be locked up all the time,” said Kah Mun.
Chong acted as a mediator and obtained a promise from the father to allow Kah Mun out of the house twice a week.
He also urged Kah Mun to understand her father’s concern and financial difficulties.
“Here is an example of a vulnerable single-parent family trying its best not to crack from the everyday pressures of financial limitation, a generation gap and outside influences,” he said.
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