SUNGAI SIPUT: The body of a 10-year-old girl was found in a swampy area in Kampung Bersah, Pos Kuala Mu, after being reported missing overnight.
Nuraina Humaira Rosli, an Orang Asli child and a Year 4 pupil at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pos Kuala Mu, was discovered at 4.20pm on Saturday, after being reported missing while playing in the village.
Sungai Siput police chief Superintendent Mohd Khaizam Ahmad Shahabudin, said a missing person report was received from the Chairman of the Orang Asli Village Development and Security Committee (JPKKOA) at 1.20am on Saturday, after she failed to return home since Friday afternoon.
Following this, a search and rescue (SAR) operation was launched early Saturday morning, involving the police K9 unit, local agencies, and residents.
"The search began within a 2-kilometre radius and the victim was found by a member of the public participating in the search at 4.20pm," he said.
The victim was found lying in a swampy area near the village, about 50 to 100 metres from the last house in the village.
When asked if the victim could have been attacked by wild animals, Mohd Khaizam said preliminary of the body showed no such signs.
"There are no visible signs (of wild animal attack). However, an autopsy is scheduled at Sungai Siput Hospital today with forensic assistance from Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital (HRPB) Ipoh. For now, the death is classified as sudden death (SDR) pending autopsy results," he said.
Mohd Khaizam also mentioned that before going missing, the victim was reportedly heading to a store alone around 3pm on the day she disappeared to buy chicken.
She returned empty-handed because the store had run out of chicken, and her uncle went to another store to buy chicken while she stayed behind to play at a nearby playground.
"She has been missing since then," he added.