Chong Siew Chin
SIBU: A family living in poverty is in dilemma after the teenage girl looking after her handicapped parents and younger OKU brother, who is a slow learner, ran away from home.
A relative who has taken over care of the family at a rented house at Tong Sang Road lodged a police report yesterday, calling on the cops to look for Chong Siew Chin who ran away on June 20. The 16-year-old is a student of a Chinese private secondary school.
The tragic story of the family has unraveled. Chong was nine years old when her father became paralysed after his limbs malfunctioned.
Chong had to help her mother care for her bed-ridden father.
Fate took another twist when her mother suffered a stroke some years ago so now Chong has to look after both her bed-ridden parents.
The family has been surviving on welfare aid.
It is unclear whether Chong ran away because she could no longer cope with the stress at home.
The relative lodged a report yesterday, saying Chong ran away on June 20 and has not returned.
The relative managed to talk to her on the phone last Saturday when Chong promised to return.
But there is still no news of her, and her relative lodged the report, fearing for her safety.
Anyone who knows her whereabouts may call the nearest police station.