KUANTAN, MALAYSIA - A 16-year-old Indonesian maid allegedly stabbed her employer's mother to death before fleeing the scene at Taman Perumahan Karang Maju here yesterday.

The maid, who had arrived at her employer's house just four days ago, was arrested a few hours later, not far from the murder scene.

In the 2pm incident yesterday, 69-year-old Miati Bakri, who lives with her son and daughter-in-law, was stabbed inside their home and collapsed on the porch.

Neighbours said they saw the maid dashing out from the house before they spotted Miati on the ground. She had been alone with the maid

One of Miati's daughters said she had sought the consent of the maid's step-family here to care for her ailing mother, but the girl, who is from Kalimantan, later said she wanted to return to her step-family.

"We told her to be patient and promised to take her home this weekend."