New Straits Times | Sun Aug 8 2010
SHE was a high-achiever in school, and was consistently number one in class. She scored five As in the Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) examination in 2005. Going by Mia's (not her real name) academic achievements, it is difficult to believe that the former international school student in Gombak, Selangor, now roams the streets of Kuala Lumpur and calls the rat-infested abandoned buildings in the vicinity her home.
She is computer-savvy and has a good command of English, but the 17-year-old has turned to prostitution instead to survive in the city.
Her family members, including her mother Yani (not her real name), was shocked when a New Sunday Times team visited the family recently after tracing their whereabouts to Kuantan.
Initially wary, the family slowly opened up. Yani was shocked when the reports in this newspaper were shown to her.
She expressed relief when told her daughter was safe.
"We had tried to locate her after she ran away in February, but there was little we could do," she said.
"She had run away before this. She ran away from home in January last year. Then came the shocking news in August that she was nabbed with some friends for drug abuse at a dilapidated house in the city. We picked her up from the police station and brought her back to her grandmother's house in Kuantan."
Yani, who previously ran a food outlet in Kuala Lumpur, said Mia ran away from home again on Feb 22 this year.
"She, however, called home a few days later and told her grandmother that she was fine. We lodged a police report, but since she requested to be left alone, we did not pressure her to return."
Yani now works as a cook in Kuantan after closing her restaurant in Kuala Lumpur early this year.
During happier times, Yani said she would send Mia and her two siblings to the international school about 8am and pick them up at 5pm.
"In primary school, Mia was very active in both academic and co-curricular activities. She would also come over to the restaurant every day to help out. I would prepare food in the kitchen while Mia took orders and entertained customers."
When Mia scored straight As in the UPSR, Yani said her husband (Mia's father) was overjoyed and gave her a mobile phone which cost more than RM2,000.
"In Form One, at the same school, Mia continued to perform well academically. Her teachers used to heap praises on her for making the school proud, including in debates and choral speaking.
"When she was in Form Three, one of the teachers informed me that Mia was skipping school. That came as a shock as I would drop her off at the school entrance. I could not believe my eyes when the CCTV recording at the school showed Mia leaving the school compound in casual clothes."
However, the school did not expel Mia.
"They hoped that she would score seven As in the Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination. A few months before the exam, I caught her smoking. She also began to slack in her studies. She scored two As, four Bs and one C in the PMR.
"Thinking she had enough of life in the city, we brought her back to Kuantan for Form Four but Mia had other ideas and ran away."
Yani recalled the time when she went to pick up Mia at the police station with Mia's father and grandmother.
"She looked calm and cool as she walked out of the police station. My husband was eagerly waiting to see her. However, Mia was more concerned about her friends.
"When we went to collect her belongings, I was shocked to see the condition of the place she was staying in before her arrest. We wanted to send Mia for rehabilitation but her grandmother objected and insisted that Mia would change.
"So, I enrolled her for an English course at a college in Kuantan. But she ran away again. She told her grandmother that she was going for a walk in the neighbourhood and escaped with only a sling bag. I blame myself for her behaviour.
"Although she has chosen this life, we pray she will return to us. If she comes home, we can sit down and sort things out."
Yani said her husband would sometimes become frustrated over his failure to control Mia. "But he believes she will return home one day.
"People may say I am an irresponsible mother but someone who is in my shoes would understand the true situation. I have given her the best but Mia wants things her way. I just want her to come home."
Mia's 61-year-old grandmother, Salmi (not her real name), hoped the reports about Mia being a prostitute was not true.
"I am certain she is not involved in immoral activities. I hope she would return for Hari Raya Aidilfitri."
Salmi said while she was shocked that Mia was now living in such unhygienic conditions, she was heartened that the teens looked out for each other. "They comprise all races and have formed a close bond. It is touching to see them living like one big happy family."
Salmi said if Mia came home, she would make sure no one scolded her any more.
"She is mischievous but has a good heart."
Yani said Mia has three younger siblings, two boys aged 15 and 13 who were schooling in Kuantan and a 5-year-old sister.
