Former TV3 newsreader’s disappearance puzzling

PETALING JAYA: Despite pleading for any information about her whereabouts, friends of former TV3 newsreader Zalina Shaharah Azman (pic) say her disappearance remains a mystery.

Besides a missing person notice released by the police on Monday night, no other information has been shared, either by the authorities or her family members.

“Please come back,” Senator Datuk Ras Adiba Mohd Radzi wrote on her Instagram page.

The former TV personality urged the public with information to go to any police station.

Ras and her husband, Mohamed Azam Ali, who also formerly worked with TV3, planned to search for Zalina around her housing area in Shah Alam last night.

She hoped to gather whatever information she could that would help locate Zalina.

Another former TV3 newscaster and talk show host, Puan Sri Normala Samsudin, who shared a screenshot of the police notice, said she hoped that her former colleague was safe.

“May Allah protect you, grant you strength. We do care and we pray for you,” she said.

Zalina, 58, previously hosted several talk shows, including Money Matters on TV3. She was reported missing by her son Mikhael Norman, 33, on Nov 29, 2021.

Shah Alam OCPD Asst Comm Mohd Iqbal Ibrahim said Mikhael tried contacting Zalina on Nov 24.

Mikhael wanted to tell her that her grandfather had been admitted to hospital, but she could not be reached.

“On Nov 29, 2021, Mikhael and his uncle went to Zalina’s house in Section 3, Shah Alam, and found her car parked there,” ACP Mohd Iqbal said.

He added that Zalina lived alone and they found her house in disarray.

“They also found the victim’s purse containing her identity card, driving licence, bank cards, credit cards, RM600 cash and a car key,” he said adding that there had been no trace of Zalina despite various efforts to find her.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Zalina’s neighbours did not really know her as she seldom socialised with them.

Mohammad Bokhari Shariff, the owner of the tahfiz centre next to Zalina’s house, said he had never met the newsreader although 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,” said the 76-year-old.

Another neighbour, who declined to be identified, said Zalina’s son had come to her house last year to ask if she had seen his mother at the house, but did not elaborate further.On Monday, police released a missing person notice to seek information from the public about a “lightly tanned” woman who is 158cm tall and weighs about 60kg.

Those with information on Zalina’s whereabouts are urged to contact the investigating officer, Sarjan Sabturia Lorong or the Section 6 Shah Alam police station at 03-5519 4622.