Authorities Deny Social Media Claims of Refusal to Accept Teen’s Missing Report

KUALA LUMPUR: Local law enforcement has refuted allegations spread on social media, claiming they delayed filing a missing person’s report for a teenage girl who had gone missing, failing to act within the first 24 hours.

Superintendent Mohd Hafiz Muhammad Nor, the head of Sungai Buloh district police, clarified these accusations in response to a post on X, which suggested police had been unwilling to take action until 24 hours had passed.

According to Hafiz, a report was officially filed within three hours and 11 minutes of the girl’s mother losing contact, under report number Kuang 3482/24.

“This clearly shows that we responded in a timely manner and did not delay the filing of the report,” Hafiz confirmed in his statement.

The police also urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information that could lead to unnecessary legal action under the Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. Spreading false information carries legal risks that may lead to imprisonment or hefty fines.

“Spreading such misinformation could result in penalties of up to two years of imprisonment or a RM50,000 fine, or both,” Hafiz said.

The missing girl, identified as Gya Natasya Abdullah, left her home in Taman Matang Jaya, Sungai Buloh, and was expected to travel to her workplace in Cheras. Thankfully, she was found safe by a woman on her way to work early on October 1, and has since returned home to her mother.