BENTONG: A 31-year-old Malaysian influencer Hu Chang Mun, has been missing for a week while in Taiwan, leaving his family deeply concerned.
A resident of Kuala Lumpur known for his frequent work travel, Hu shared updates of his journey to Nanning, China, on Facebook and Instagram at the start of this month, Sin Chew Daily reported.
From Nanning, he originally wanted to return to Malaysia on Dec 13 to take a cruise to Hong Kong with friends on Dec 15.
However, in their last communication on Dec 11, Hu's mother, Leong Foong Yin, said he sent her a text message saying he wanted to stay on in Taiwan for a few months. This uncharacteristic mode of communication, instead of their regular voice calls, has raised eyebrows.
Leong only discovered Hu's disappearance when he had travelled to Taiwan with a 'mysterious friend'.
According to Leong, neither the family nor friends have any information about this 'friend'.
In a similar message on Dec 11, Hu informed his Bentong friends about cancelling the cruise trip to extend his stay in Taiwan. His lack of response to their queries about this sudden change of plans left them in disbelief and confusion.
Leong, 63, has tried unsuccessfully to reach her son ever since, causing her great anxiety.
She sought help from Bilut assemblyperson Lee Chin Chen and held a press conference, hoping the community could assist in locating her son.
Leong, who lives in Taman Saga Bentong with her husband, 67, has three sons, with Hu being the youngest.
Hu has made a name for himself in Kuala Lumpur over the years, engaging in live streaming, short video creation, and managing event invitations, among other activities.
He regularly shares snippets of his life on Facebook under the account name Ady Hu.
Leong noted that Hu's hectic work schedule keeps him away from home, with his last visit dating back to May this year. His complete lack of contact is deemed very unusual.
"My son always returns to Bentong for Chinese New Year. With just a month left for the New Year, it's unsettling that he'd choose to extend his stay in Taiwan and cut off all contact with us.
"Even his colleagues and friends can't reach him. It's very worrying. We're also concerned about the identity of the 'mysterious uncle' he's said to be travelling with," she said.
At a press conference, Lee mentioned that Leong and her husband had reported Hu's disappearance to Bentong police on Dec 16, hoping for his early return so the family could celebrate Chinese New Year.
Lee also mentioned reaching out to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Malaysia for help in finding Hu. He urged anyone with information about Hu's whereabouts to contact Leong directly at 016-951 5001 or his office at 09-222 0822.
