GEORGE TOWN: Maslina Maulat Siadin, 13, who went missing last
month returned safely home on Tuesday.
After a month of searching, her father Siadin Rashid, 44, finally
found her on Pulau Lamaraya, a remote island southeast of
Sulawesi.
Maslina, the youngest in the family of six, is believed to have
been abducted by an Indonesian contract worker from her house in
Kampung Pondok Upeh.
"I was so happy to finally be able to see and hold her after all
this time.
"I was shocked when Maslina told me that she was given a potion to
drink to make her forget about her family before she was taken to
Indonesia," he said at his home in Kampung Pondok Upeh, Balik Pulau
yesterday.
Maslina, who was allegedly forced to marry the 18-year-old contract
worker while in Sulawesi, was reported to have gone missing on Dec
16.
Siadin said the family found out recently that the man, identified
as La Ila, had taken his daughter to Indonesia.
Siadin and his brother, Jalil, an Immigration officer, then left
for Jakarta on Jan 17 to track down Maslina.
From Jakarta, they took an eight-hour flight to Kendari, the
nearest airport to Pulau Lamaraya.
"On arrival, we took a three-hour taxi ride to the interior and
were told by the localauthority that Maslina and a man had been
detained at the police station.
"We went straight to the station where a tearful Maslina rushed out
and hugged me."
Siadin said he and Jalil had to do some hard bargaining with the
Indonesian immigration and police before they could bring her home
on Tuesday.
"Maslina had entered Indonesia illegally at Tanjong Pinang, Riau,
and then took a one-week boat trip to reach Pulau Lamaraya.
"She survived on bananas and boiled corn during her journey."
Siadin expressed his thanks to the Malaysian Embassy and the
Immigration Department for their help in bringing his daughter home
as she had entered Indonesia without travel documents.
Meanwhile, Maslina's mother, Salmiah Hussin, was thankful that her
youngest daughter was finally home.
"I am so happy. I plan to throw a thanksgiving gathering to
celebrate her return."
Maslina declined to be interviewed by reporters.
http://www.nst.com.my/Saturday/National/2142124/Article/index_html
