KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has confirmed that Malaysian actress Nadia Kesuma exited King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, as efforts intensify to locate her following her reported disappearance in Saudi Arabia.
Mohamad said he had been in constant contact with the Malaysian Consulate in Jeddah and that checks with local police and immigration authorities had confirmed her departure from the airport.
He said Malaysian officials were working closely with Saudi police and immigration authorities to trace her movements after she left the airport.
Mohamad said travel agents involved in the trip would also be held accountable and could not absolve themselves of responsibility.
“We have also asked that the travel agent must not simply wash their hands of the matter.
“The travel agent must be held responsible for whom the person travelled with, the group she was travelling with, and we must inquire into this,” he said.
Mohamad revealed this to reporters while visiting the media centre at the Umno General Assembly today.
He pressed confidence in the capabilities of Saudi authorities.
“So we are doing our best, and we are confident that the authorities, especially the Royal Police of Saudi Arabia, will provide good assistance, as their level of efficiency there is also strong,” he said.
He urged the actress’s family to remain calm as investigations and search efforts continue.
“We must trust their capabilities and we ask the family to remain calm,” he said.
Mohamad said locating individuals in Saudi Arabia could be challenging, but highlighted that cooperation between Malaysian and Saudi authorities remained strong.
“We will make every possible effort to locate her. Once someone has entered, especially when heading to Makkah, there are large crowds.
“But we have good cooperation between the Malaysian Consulate and the police authorities in Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Earlier today, police confirmed receiving a report on the disappearance of actress Nadia Kesuma at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The report was lodged by a family member at the KLIA district police headquarters yesterday.
KLIA police chief Assistant Commissioner M. Ravi confirmed receiving the report and said further investigations were under way.
The actress, whose real name is Nadia Kasumawati Abdul Karim, was reported missing after she could not be traced while transiting at the airport during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to London on Thursday.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
