Missing ex-newsreader kept to herself, did not mingle much: Neighbours

Zalina Shaharah's home in Shah Alam with partially built fence and gate has been vacant since she was reported missing last year. – Bernamapic

SHAH ALAM: Former television newsreader Zalina Shaharah Azman, 58, reported missing since November last year, was not well known to her neighbours and kept to herself.

Mohammad Bokhari Shariff, 76, owner of a tahfiz centre next to Zalina Shaharah’s house in Section 3 here, said he had never met her since he moved in several years ago.

"The house was being renovated into what seemed to be an office, but it came to a halt last year before the police came to see me seeking information (after she went) missing," he said.

ALSO READ: Former newsreader still missing eight months on

Mohammad Bokhari, who has lived in the residential area for over 40 years, said he only knew that Zalina Shaharah bought the house because the original owner told him the house had been sold to his relative, who was also a television personality.

"But I think she never lived there. I only noticed that there was a black luxury car always parked at the house and I think the car belonged to the homeowner," he told the media here on Tuesday (July 19).

A check around Zalina Shaharah's house found that the place was deserted with a fence only partially built.

A neighbour who lives across from the house, who declined to be identified, said the former broadcast journalist's son had come around last year to ask if he had seen his mother, but did not comment further.

A woman who also declined to be identified said her mother, who lives next door to Zalina Shaharah, did not know that the house was owned by a television personality until the news surfaced last night.

ALSO READ: Inform cops if you have any info on missing newscaster, public urged

On Monday (July 18), Shah Alam district police chief ACP Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said in a statement that they received a report from her son Mikhael Norman, 33, regarding the disappearance of his mother on Nov 29 last year.

Zalina Shaharah was reported missing when Mikhael tried to contact her on Nov 24 to inform her that his grandfather had been admitted to hospital, but failed to contact her.

"On Nov 29, the complainant and his uncle arrived at his mother's house in Section 3, Shah Alam and found his mother's car at home," he said.

He said an inspection of the house found it in a messy condition while the owner was not at home.

On Instagram, Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Radzi has urged anyone with information on Zalina Shaharah's whereabouts to come forward and inform the police. – Bernama