100.3 listeners help find missing autistic boy
The teen had gone missing for about 16 hours before the call was made to the radio station
By Judith Tan 
Said a grateful Madam Chong: 'I wish to say thank you to everyone who helped to look out for Wenhao. I am at a loss for words but my gratefulness comes from the bottom of my heart.' -- PHOTO: SHIN MIN
A DESPERATE mother's call to Radio 100.3 set off a chain reaction as listeners rallied to help track down her missing autistic son.
Within an hour of the tearful appeal on Singapore Press Holdings' Mandarin station on Wednesday, 16-year-old Lin Wenhao was found.
Wenhao was with his mother, Madam Chong Yunyun, 44, and the maid at Chinatown Point, when he went missing at about 4.30 pm on Tuesday.
'For five hours I rushed around Chinatown searching high and low for him. I was going out of my mind with worry. He may look like any other boy but he is autistic,' said Madam Chong.
Autism is a complex developmental disability and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain.
Both children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, leisure or play activities.
After several futile hours, Madam Chong made a police report.
'Even then I was not able to sit still and wait for news. I spent the whole night with my friends, combing places he frequented,' she said.
They included North Point and Causeway Point, shopping centres close to where they live.
'We were also putting up posters with his picture, so that when the public spot him, they could take him to the police station,' she said.
When this was to no avail, and seeing how Madam Chong's blood pressure was rising alarmingly, her friends told her to call Radio 100.3.
'They said perhaps the deejay could help appeal to listeners for their help,' she said.
Mr Wong Woon Hong, better known as Huang Wenhong, the programme and promotions director of the station was then on duty.
He said he put the crying woman on air 'and within minutes of the earnest appeal, I was receiving smses from listener who sighted the teenager'.
A total of 500 messages and calls were received by Radio 100.3 after the appeal was repeated on the morning show.
At about 8.20 am, MRT train operator Mr Lim Boon Ko, 27, called the radio station to say he had Wenhao with him.
'He told us he had brought the boy to the control room at Pasir Ris MRT station. And that Madam Chong could claim him from there,' Mr Wong told The Straits Times.
Madam Chong was reunited with her son at the station.
'I cannot begin to describe the relief I felt when I saw him. All I could do is to grab and hold him tight,' she said.
Mr Lim said he spotted the teenager when his train passed Simei station.
'He was on the platform, standing in front of the yellow line and looking dazed and bewildered. I didn't know who he was at that moment,' he said.
He only learnt that an autistic boy was missing from the radio when he was changing shift.
'I went looking for him at the Pasir Ris station. When I found him, I called the station immediately,' he said.
Mr Wong said: 'I am just blown over by the compassion Singaporeans have for this mother, or simply anyone in need.'
Said a grateful Madam Chong: 'I wish to say thank you to everyone who helped to look out for Wenhao. I am at a loss for words but my gratefulness comes from the bottom of my heart.' she said.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2...ry_194497.html 
100.3 listeners help find missing autistic boy 
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