Petaling Jaya: The nation rallied behind the distraught parents of missing boy William Yau Zhen Zhong as the search for the six-year-old continues.

Political parties, non-governmental organisations and individuals pledged that Yau Kok Kang and his wife Goh Ying Ying would not have to go through the painful and harrowing experience on their own.

MCA would mobilise its one million members while Wanita Umno would leverage on its 22,000 branches nationwide to help in the search for the child who went missing on Jan 16.

MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said: "This is about bringing the boy back to the family. It's not about politics. We appeal to all Malaysians to join us to look for him.

He added the party would distribute posters and leaflets at public places, including at markets and eating spots.

Besides that, it would also rope in the various Chinese guilds and associations to look for the boy, Dr Chua said.

Urging Malaysians to pray for the boy's safety, he said it was everyone's wish to see William reunited with his family for the Chinese New Year.

MCA Public Complaints and Services Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong has put up a RM20,000 reward for anyone who gives a lead on the boy's whereabouts.

William's parents contributed RM5,000 to the reward while the KK Group of Companies and the Federal Territories Rela Club donated RM5,000 and RM10,000 respectively.

Chong, a Rela club member, said its two million members would help look for the child.

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the wing would upload William's picture on its website and get its branches to plaster his posters at public places.

"This is the least we can do," she said, appealing to those who might be holding the youngster to hand him over to the police or hospital.

"We pray he will be found in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year with his family," she said.

Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said the MCPF has volunteered to help look for the boy, adding its members would be the "eyes and ears" of the police.

"It is important we all play our part to help the parents in any way possible," he said.

--Courtesy of The Star Online