There is good news in the papers this gloomy Friday with The Star and New Straits Times carrying stories that confirmed Nor Amira Fatihah is safe and at home. This photo shows Nor Amira (second from left) with her parents Asmah and Mohammad Rosdi Md Noh and Supt Ghuzlan, (From The Star – Friday December 14, 2007)
When she was still missing only Berita Harian and Harian Metro carried her story and only Berita Harian had her photo here. On the same day the news of her disappearance was published, more than a week after she went missing, strangers came forward to inform her family as to her whereabouts. Thus the power of the media. May I take this opportunity to commend the media for this heightened awareness of the important role they can play in finding a missing child. I noted that in many instances, cases of missing children that were featured in the local papers have usually ended with good news.
I am especially gratified to know that after the media highlighted her story, the Kulim/Bandar Baru MCA service team distributed about 200 photographs of Nor Amira in Padang Serai town and Kulim in a move to help locate her. It made me happy to read that she was found by villagers after news of her disappearance was published in local newspapers. At a time when the nation is bewildered by recent events that would benefit no one, the media played their role and brought a little girl home safe and sound. My faith in my fellow Malaysians and the local media has been restored somewhat. The road to healing will be long and painful for the traumatized Nor Amira, her family and for this nation. But there is hope that in future, when it’s time to step up to the plate when a NURIN Alert is triggered for a missing child, the media and the community will do so without hesitance. Thank you all!
The Star: Girl, 12, rescued from house
KULIM: Nor Amira Fatihah Mohammad Rosdi, 12, has been found, 10 days after she was reportedly kidnapped after a Quran class. Her mother Asmah Ismail, 45, received a tip-off that Nor Amira was held in a house in Nagalilit in Padang Serai and rushed there yesterday with seven relatives to rescue her. They found the girl safe and sound but looking confused, Nor Amira had been staying with a family at the house. “We were allowed into the house, which was full of people. At first, my daughter appeared confused and frightened. “Then I hugged her and told her to follow me home and we brought her out of the house. Nobody tried to stop us,” a relieved Asmah said at her Taman Kota Kenari home yesterday. She added that some strangers approached her at her house on Wednesday night to inform her of her daughter’s whereabouts.
On Wednesday, the Kulim/Bandar Baru MCA service team distributed about 200 photographs of Nor Amira in Padang Serai town and here in a move to help locate her. It was reported earlier that Nor Amira was abducted while waiting for her mother to pick her up from a Quran reading class in Taman Kenari on Dec 3. She was waiting for her mother at about 8pm when a couple in a white Proton Iswara Aeroback picked her up and drove off. Kulim acting OCPD Deputy Supt Ghuzlan Salleh said that police picked up a 40-year-old man at about 9am in Kulim town yesterday. Police also took statements from Nor Amira and her mother. “Although Nor Amira appeared traumatised, she has not been physically hurt or abused,” he said. “We are not certain about the motive for the kidnapping but will be recording statements from a few more people.”
Girl found after missing for 10 days
KULIM, Thu.: Twelve-year-old Nor Amira Mohd Rosdi, who went missing 10 days ago and was thought to have been kidnapped, was found in a house in Kampung Nagalilit, Padang Serai, here yesterday. The Standard Six student of Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Kulim was found by villagers after news of her disappearance was published in local newspapers. “Several villagers went to the house of the girl’s family yesterday afternoon and told them they had found Nor Amira in a house. They told her mother to go to the house,” acting Kulim OCPD DSP Ghuzlan Salleh said. He said the girl seemed confused and cried when her mother, Asmah Ismail, 45, came but she initially refused to follow her mother home. “After being persuaded for hours and being told that her father was critically ill, Nor Amira finally agreed to go home,” he told reporters here today. So far, police have not been able to get information from the girl about what had happened because she is still in trauma. On Dec 3, Asmah sent her daughter to a house in Taman Kenari here for a Quran lesson but when she came to fetch Nor Amira later that day, she was not there. It was reported that Nor Amira had gotten into a white Proton Iswara Aeroback car driven by a man. There was also a woman in the car. Nor Amira’s disappearance was reported to the police by her father, Mohd Rosdi Md Noh, 44. Ghuzlan said police arrested a 40-year-old man in Padang Serai yesterday in connection with the case. Several more people would probably be picked up to assist in the investigation, he said. – Bernama
Morning Temban. When I read your article today, it reminded me how urgent Nurin Alert is. The girl was missing for 10 days and the media did a fantastic feat by featuring her and she was found quickly. However, even as a strong NurinAlert supporter, I missed this piece of news until I read it in your blog yesterday. This made me realise that the current coverage was not enough. We needed more and consistent coverage and on all avenues. In US, they have the amber ticker which turns yellow on any person’s pc or blog giving details of the child, thus alerting a larger crowd. So, it’s in the papers, news, handouts and even PCs. I know this is just the beginning and there are so much more to do, well it’s Xmas, so I am wishing for lots of things and goodies for Nurin Alert. Gotta do lots of xmas shopping, in my family, we have so many festivals to celebrate, Chinese New Year, Raya and Xmas – all major celebration to us, all also spend more $$, each always representing a new beginning and new hope. cheerio
Hi Mary Kate. Yes, I fully agree. I read about her going missing in a comment posted on Jasni’s blog. I immediately looked for the article in Harian Metor but there was no photo o her. Then I did a Google search and found a Berita Harian article online with a photo. That’s how come I managed to feature her on my blog. So important for the child’s photos and important details to be highlighted. Remember the Child ID kits, the Amber Stick. I think that that is a practical idea. You just never know when you might need it. I also like the Amber Ticker, the MMS alerts and highway road signs etc but we need to proceed with caution and one step at a time. We will do it.
Yes, we are fortunate to always have a reason for throwing a party, even if it is just to share good food wih friends. Now I am thinking a great American-style Turkey dinner would be fantastic right about this time of year. Farina must be cooking up a storm in California by now.
Cheers and remember, it’s not the gift but the love that it is wrapped in that matters most!