Arya News - On April 8, gaps in intervention services that could have prevented her death were highlighted. Following the tragedy, the Ministry of Social and Family Development updated its reporting protocols for pre-schools in 2021.
SINGAPORE – After more than a year of suffering physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her mother and the woman’s boyfriend, four-year-old Megan Khung died in February 2020. On April 8, gaps in intervention services that could have prevented her death were highlighted. Following the tragedy, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) updated its reporting protocols for pre-schools in 2021.
Here is a timeline of events leading up to Megan’s death:She enrolled in the Healthy Start Child Development Centre in 2017. The pre-school, located in Bukit Merah, supports children from less privileged socio-economic backgrounds. February 2019
Between late February and early March 2019, Megan’s mother, Foo Li Ping, and her boyfriend, Wong Shi Xiang, would cane the young girl if she urinated on the bed and sofa. March 2019
The Healthy Start Child Development Centre observed visible injuries on Megan on March 19. Beyond Social Services (Beyond), the social service agency that runs the centre, said it immediately informed a caseworker. Megan’s mother and grandmother were engaged by the caseworker for a health and safety check. Megan’s mother, Foo, told the worker that the bruises were caused by a cycling accident and disciplinary action. The caseworker assessed the incident as a case of excessive discipline rather than sustained abuse. Megan was put under a Temporary Care Plan, and this meant that she was moved out of her mother’s home and placed under the care of her grandmother. April 2019
Beyond submitted an incident report to the Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) in early April, detailing the injuries found on Megan in March, her mother’s reason for the injuries and the care plan. The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) said the report concluded that Megan appeared happy, had no further injuries, and had been attending pre-school daily since March 19. ECDA followed up with the pre-school a few days after receiving the report, and the pre-school confirmed that Megan was well and still attending school daily. Based on the information presented, ECDA did not suspect child abuse. Between March and September in 2019, Beyond said Megan showed no further signs of injury, and she continued attending school regularly under the care of her grandmother.
September 2019
Beyond said Foo withdrew Megan from the pre-school on Sept 17. Megan went back to living with her mother. The agency said it made multiple attempts to contact Foo, including through phone calls and messages, to confirm Megan’s safety. On Sept 25, Beyond initiated contact with agencies to escalate its concerns. A community worker from Beyond consulted a Child Protection Specialist Centre over concerns about Megan, including her whereabouts. The specialist centre advised the community worker to continue working with Megan’s grandmother to see the young girl in person to check on her well-being. October 2019
Beyond’s community worker informed ECDA about Megan’s withdrawal from pre-school. The community worker mentioned that Beyond had already reached out to a Child Protection Specialist Centre. The worker asked ECDA if Megan was registered in any other pre-school. ECDA was unable to find records of Megan’s enrolment in other pre-schools and advised the community worker to make a police report if there were concerns about Megan’s whereabouts. Beyond said Megan’s grandmother, who was the trusted caregiver under the Temporary Care Plan, was hesitant to file a police report, fearing that it would result in her being cut off from staying in touch with her granddaughter. Beyond caseworkers kept in touch with the grandmother over the next several months, and encouraged her to continue trying to reach Megan’s mother and to update Beyond. November 2019
On Nov 9, Foo forced Megan to wear her soiled diaper over her head, as she was angry that the girl did not tell her that her diaper was full. When Megan resisted, Foo slapped her. January 2020
Megan’s grandmother told Beyond she had lost all contact with Megan and her mother, and consented to file a police report. She was accompanied by a Beyond caseworker to file the report. From January 2020, Megan was only allowed to eat depending on Wong’s mood. The couple also forced Megan to be naked at home, to prevent her from staining her clothes with blood. Between January and February, Megan suffered cruel abuse. Wong hit her with a water hose, sprayed water from the toilet bidet onto her face, and hit her arms and legs with a baton. He also hit her until her jaw became crooked. February 2020
Wong fatally punched Megan in the stomach at their condominium on Feb 21. May 2020
Megan’s body was burned in a metal barrel on May 8. Read More:
Megan Khung’s death: At least 7 other fatal child abuse cases in Singapore over past 10 years
Info from Megan Khung’s pre-school gave no reason for ECDA to suspect girl’s abuse: MSF