Cautious student in Malaysia escapes kidnappers

SUNGAI PETANI — A quick-thinking year three pupil escaped from two men who attempted to abduct him from the entrance of a school in Sungai Lalang in Kedah, Malaysia.

The nine-year-old boy, who was waiting for his parents to pick him up at about 2 p.m. on Tuesday, was approached by two men on a motorcycle.

The men reportedly told him that his father had asked them to pick him up from school.

Sensing something amiss, the boy dashed into the school compound and told the security guard about the incident.

The school’s board of governors’ assistant secretary-general Chng Chuwn Leong, 47, said the security guard then informed the school authorities.

“School ends at 1:10 p.m. and a teacher is always assigned to be at the entrance for 30 minutes to wait for the children to be picked up by their parents or guardians.

“However on Tuesday, the boy’s parents were late and only a security guard was there,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He stressed that the school’s teachers, board of governors and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) always worked closely to ensure the pupils’ safety.

Chng, who is also the school PTA committee member and Kedah United Chinese School Committee Association chairman, said the security guard then called the boy’s parents.

“The parents confirmed that they did not ask anyone to pick up their son,” he said.

Chng also said the school would enhance security by increasing the number of security guards patrolling the school compound.

The boy’s 40-year-old father, who did not want to be named, lodged a police report on Tuesday.

Kuala Muda OCPD Asst Comm Khalil Ariffin confirmed the case, adding that it was under investigation. KS