KUANTAN: What began as a joyous Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration for a couple turned into a frantic search when their 3-year-old daughter went missing on a floating raft house along Sungai Bukit Rangin near here last night.
Siti Nur Athhiyya Soffea Mohamad Shukri was last seen at the event hosted by her parents at their raft house about 11pm before she went missing.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the victim's father Muhammad Sukri Ali, 50, lodged a police report after he along with the other guests could not locate the girl at their raft house.
"Investigations revealed Sukri and his wife had organised the Aidilfitri open-house, which was attended by their close friends. Sukri owned two raft houses along the river and both units were connected by a wooden bridge.
"Sukri realised his daughter, who was dressed in a red baju kurung, was missing about 11.15pm and he immediately alerted the others before they searched the area," he said in a statement today.
Wan Zahari said Sukri lodged a police report before policemen and firemen had searched the area last night but since it was already too dark, the search operations were called off and resumed this morning.
"Sukri shared news about his missing child in several WhatsApp groups but has not received any positive feedback. The case has been classified as missing person," he said.
Meanwhile, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (Operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said search and rescue operations have been activated to locate the victim along the riverbank and nearby areas in case she fell into the river.