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.
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