NORIKOH NEVER WORKED AS MAID

JUSTICE.... Siti Suryani Abd Lamit, assistant secretary of SAPP Mudanita and organizing chairperson of the peaceful gathering yesterday, said the gathering was to claim justice for Norikoh.

By :  CHOK SIM YEE

KOTA KINABALU: Norikoh Saliwa, the 16-year-old schoolgirl who was found dead by the roadside near Kampung Ranau, Kota Marudu on November 25, had never worked as a maid, said her guardian of five years.

Anna (not her real name) said there had been too much untruths on the social media regarding Norikoh.

She said she had spoken to Norikoh’s family and they had expressed their anger and disappointment towards what was being said in the media.

“Please listen to the truth. If you want to know the truth, please listen to the family,” she said.

On the other hand, Anna was disappointed that the relevant authority had made a simple conclusion to Norikoh’s death without conducting a thorough investigation.

“I find it very, very disappointing because where are the leaders who always say that they will fight for the people, they will fight for justice and so on?

“In reality, no, I don’t see that,” the 34-year-old Anna said in an interview at Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Mudanita peaceful gathering on the death of Norikoh at Gaya Street here yesterday.

Anna said she would fight for Norikoh and urged Sabahans to do the same, to fight for their rights, to fight for justice.

“She told the people in the village how much she loved me, how good I had been treating her.

“She had been telling that to her parents so now I will tell her that, in front of everyone, I will fight for her, I will fight for justice,” she stressed.

Anna said she would also take note of what the government would do about this incident as it involved the issue of foreigners.

The guardian of Norikoh has wished that there is a time machine so that she can turn back the time and save her from being killed by the “monster”.

Anna cried as she recalled the memories she had of Norikoh and the aftermath of her death that has left both families devastated.

The body of Norikoh was found at the roadside near Kampung Ranau, about two kilometres from Kota Marudu town on November 25.

The victim was said to have gone back to her hometown at Kampung Bombong 1, Kota Marudu, to spend her holidays with her family.

According to Anna, Norikoh had wanted to study in London and aspired to be a doctor.

She chanced upon Norikoh as she studied in SK Samparita, Kota Marudu. For the past five years, she had been under the care of the guardian, and had been treated as a family member.

Norikoh, the youngest child among her family’s six children, three elder sisters and two elder brothers, was a family-oriented girl.

“She was a very cheerful person. She wanted to build a big house, she had a dream for her parents and family, she wanted to give them a good life, bring them to place she had been to,” Anna said.

Anna had taken Norikoh to London last year, and had visited Cambridge University during their trip.

The trip had motivated Norikoh, Anna said, adding that the girl had really wanted to study at the university.

“We were supposed to fly back to United Kingdom next year, but has never thought this …,” she said.

After completing her primary school education at SK Samparita, Norikoh had studied in SMK Sanzac, and had transferred to SM St Peter Telipok before settling on SMK Perempuan Likas.

As Norikoh came from a remote area, Anna said she was afraid to mix with other races.

Norikoh had chosen to study at home when she could not get along with the people at school, but that did not deter her from her dream to enter a renowned university in the UK.

“She’s very naive, you can rarely find a girl like that, who respected elders, who listened to elders, who treated my mom like her own mom, even called my mom ‘mommy’.

“I don’t think I will be able to find another girl like her,” Anna said.

Christmas this year will be difficult for both Anna and Norikoh’s family. Norikoh had planned to return to her parents on Christmas day.

“I think I ran out of tears because of her (Norikoh). I wish there was a time machine to turn back the time, so I can do something, perhaps I can save her from that beast, that monster.”

Meanwhile, Siti Suryani Abd Lamit, assistant secretary of SAPP Mudanita and organizing chairperson of the peaceful gathering yesterday, said the gathering was to claim justice for Norikoh.

“As a teenager myself, we don’t feel safe in Sabah because of the flood of illegal immigrants who have brought with them complications.

“We hope the police would cooperate and conduct transparent investigation so that Norikoh received the proper justice.”

Peter Marajin, a member of SAPP supreme council, has received a verbal consent from the victim’s family to keep a watching brief on the case.

He added that he is now awaiting a letter of appointment from the victim’s family and will proceed to carry out his duties as soon as he received the document.

Also present at the peaceful gathering was SAPP Women chief cum Luyang assemblywoman Melanie Chia. (BP)