KUALA LUMPUR: The mother of missing 12-year-old Siti Dhia Batrisyia Mohd Chairil Anuar says her daughter went missing shortly after she was reprimanded for missing school.
Syarifah Rosfazlia Syed Muhammad Fazili, 41, said she last saw Dhia at 4pm on March 12 at their home in Pudu.
"When she returned home on Tuesday evening, I asked her why she skipped school," said Syarifah, adding she received a text about Dhia's absence from her teacher.
She said Dhia told her that she skipped school to go out and buy a present for her (Syarifah).
"When I heard that, I scolded her and told her that what she did was wrong and asked her why she went shopping on a school day.
"A few minutes later, I went out to buy food to prepare dinner. When I returned, Dhia was gone," she said, adding she felt worried when Dhia did not return home to break fast.
Earlier today, Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Noor Dellhan Yahaya said police are searching for Dhia.
He said the case has been classified as a missing persons case and that members of the public who spot Dhia should contact the police.
Syarifah said Dhia would usually hang out with her friends in the area and when she did not return, she started asking around.
"But none of them (Dhia's friends) knew her whereabouts. Before this, she never went far for long and always returned home."
She said some of Dhia's friends have told her that the girl was with an unknown man she met on social media.
"Some friends said Dhia was headed to Ampang. Some said Dhia had told them about a person (she met) but none of her friends have met that person."