SINGAPORE: Following Megan Khung’s fatal abuse case, professionals in the social work sector welcomed the review panel’s recommendations but stressed that the sector still needs more support.
With more agencies who were involved in the case acknowledging their part in the lapses that occurred, those who spoke to CNA said they felt relieved that the full facts were released, and also made several suggestions that could prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Megan died in February 2020. She was abused for months by her mother Foo Li Ping and the woman’s then-boyfriend Brian Wong, before the latter inflicted a fatal punch on the girl.
In April, Foo was sentenced to 19 years’ jail for abusing her daughter and helping to burn her corpse. Wong was jailed for 30 years and given 17 strokes of the cane for his role in Megan’s death, along with other drug crimes.
Social work professionals told CNA they felt “a sense of relief” after the report’s release on Oct 23 that the inadequate response to Megan’s case was no longer attributed solely to community agencies, and that there was more “accountability” across the board.
“It was plain to many people in the industry that the responsibility can’t be so singular,” said Ms Cindy Tay, director of home at Children’s Aid Society.
“It’s more important that there was a response from the government body to the reactions on the ground.”
