A 10-year-old girl was found alone at 11 pm on the main road in Taman Belimbing Setia, Melaka, by a married couple who safely escorted her to the Durian Tunggal Police Station.
Upon investigation, PDRM revealed that the girl had run away from home after being denied access to the television and told to go to bed early by her foster mother.
A 22-second video of the discovery circulated earlier, in which a man was heard urging the girl’s parents to come forward to the police station.
About an hour after she was found, her family arrived at the station to take her home. Acting Alor Gajah District Police Chief, Deputy Superintendent Azrul Mohamed, said the girl was upset because her foster mother did not allow her to watch TV, as she had to wake up early for school the next day.
Azrul also urged all parents and guardians to monitor their children closely and report any disappearances immediately.
“Children often run away from home due to a lack of communication and supervision, as well as negative influences from others.”
“Parents are advised to nurture strong relationships with their children so they feel emotionally safe,” he said.
The man who found the girl said he noticed her while out buying food. He had driven past her but decided to turn back, feeling uneasy about seeing a child alone by the roadside in the dark. The girl cried while explaining her situation, and he brought her to his home.
After discussing with his wife, the couple, who wished to remain anonymous, decided to bring her to the police station, according to Harian Metro.
The case was closed after the girl was reunited with her family.
Azrul also reminded parents to monitor their children’s movements and social media usage, as online platforms could be a factor influencing minors to run away from home.
