In a shocking incident that unfolded at a shopping mall in Melaka, Malaysia, a man attempted to abduct a seven-year-old girl in front of her mother on the evening of December 19. The alarming event was shared by the girl’s mother, Amanda Tan, in a Facebook post that has since garnered significant attention.
According to Ms. Tan, the incident occurred around 9:15 PM when she was accompanying her two daughters to the restroom. As they exited, a man suddenly grabbed her elder daughter and exclaimed, “Let’s enjoy it!” Reacting swiftly, Ms. Tan managed to pull her daughter back and confronted the man, who then walked away.
Following the incident, Ms. Tan approached the mall’s customer service for assistance, but reported feeling dismissed by the staff. She recounted that they merely instructed her to fill out a report without taking immediate action, such as pursuing the suspect or investigating the scene. Frustrated by their lack of urgency, she expressed her anger, stating, “What made me feel angrier was that after I filled out the form, they said they would check CCTV footage before contacting me.”
Despite her efforts to keep the mall’s name confidential, online users quickly identified it as Lotus’s Cheng, a hypermarket located in Melaka. The incident left Ms. Tan’s daughter traumatized, prompting the mother to take matters into her own hands. After ensuring her daughters were safe at home, she returned to the mall and found the man casually drinking water.
Determined to confront him, Ms. Tan called her husband and brother for support. Photos shared on social media depicted the man being assaulted by the family members in the parking lot. Following the altercation, Ms. Tan contacted the police to report the incident.
In the aftermath, the mall faced backlash from the public for its handling of the situation. In response to the criticism, mall management reached out to Ms. Tan, explaining that they could not take action against the man due to his mental health issues. However, Ms. Tan firmly disagreed with this rationale, asserting that the mall should not excuse his inappropriate behavior and should have acted more responsibly. She also highlighted that the mall lacked security personnel, raising further concerns about safety.
The incident has sparked a broader conversation about the safety of children in public spaces and the responsibilities of establishments to protect their patrons. As the community continues to react, many are calling for improved security measures in malls to prevent such alarming incidents from occurring in the future.