GEORGE TOWN: A mother is appealing for help to contact her only son after she lost contact with him in September last year.
Kindergarten helper Chuah Poh Aii, 57, said Lum Wei Sheng, now 27, left home on Feb 26, 2022.
When she failed to contact him, she lodged a missing person's report on Feb 28, 2022.
"On March 1, 2022, he contacted me via WeChat and told me he was okay. He showed me photos and a video of Cambodia. I only heard him calling out his friend's name but did not see his photo.
"All this while he only chatted with me and his sister using WeChat messages, even then, he rarely messaged. On three occasions, he sent me brief voice messages after I insisted I wanted to hear his voice to know he was okay.
"When I first went to the press to relate my story on Aug 29, last year, he sent me a voice message on Sept 1 to say that he was doing alright and not to disturb him as he was busy working.
"That was the last I heard from him until today. I am worried sick and concerned about his safety. I just want him to return safely," she said when met today.
Chuah said her daughter managed to locate her brother in an online gaming app.
"However, when my daughter chatted with him, there was no response.
"I don't know what he is doing in Cambodia but he did send a photo of computer on April 14, 2022.
"I believe he went with friends as he had never travelled abroad before this. He also never had an international passport," she added.
Chuah appealed to those with any information about Lum to contact her at 016-4377286.
Lum used to work in the factory while in Penang.
After failing to Lum ,Chuah approached Penang Gerakan public complaints bureau chief Andrew Ooi for help last month.
On July 30, they went to the police to check on the status of the missing person report.
They were told that Lum indeed boarded a flight from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Cambodia on Feb 27, 2022.
The Immigration Department confirmed that Lum left the country.
"The consulate division of the Foreign Ministry said they would liaise with the Malaysian Consulate in Cambodia on the matter," Ooi said.