SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) will establish a social services coordination centre, as well as improve protocols and coordination with the police for missing children following a review of the Megan Khung fatal abuse case.

Mr Lee, who is also the Education Minister, said: “There were opportunities to pick up on the abuse, which might have prevented Megan’s death. Our responses clearly fell short.”

“On behalf of all the agencies and organisations concerned, we are deeply sorry for the outcome, and for the lapses at the Child Protective Service, and the Singapore Police Force, as well as the missed opportunities at Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA).

"We should have done much better.”

Mr Lee was responding to multiple questions filed by several Members of Parliament on the review panel’s report, querying the government on the protocols in place as well as the improvements that can be made to the child protection ecosystem.

In his response, Mr Lee said child protection rests on the “foundational principle” that parents are primarily responsible for their children, and the ministry does not and should not intervene unnecessarily.

“Families encountering the child protection system often find the experience stressful. They may be questioned by teachers, healthcare professionals, social workers and the police, which can feel intrusive and accusatory, especially if eventually no abuse is found.”  

Mr Lee said social workers support parents to care for their children and intervene “only when the child is at risk”.

However, when there are “reasonable grounds” to believe that a child is in need of care and protection, child prote...