By EMBUN MAJID

ALOR SETAR, MALAYSIA: When Awang started to shriek, it was fortunate that a family of seven paid attention - the pet macaque was warning them about a lethal intruder.

In the 3pm incident on Sunday, a cobra slithered towards the house in Kampung Bukit Teriak, about 25km from here.

Munirah Mustaffa, 42, and her six children, aged between four and 20, were about to leave their house at that time.

"When we heard Awang making noises, we assumed some wild monkeys had disturbed him. One of my sons, Mohd Sidqi Mat Isa, 11, volunteered to chase them away and he went out.

"It was then that he saw the cobra slithering towards the house," she said, adding that he tried to run back into the house.

"I saw the snake approaching and quickly slammed the door shut," said Munirah.

"To my horror, I realised my son was still outside," she said at her home yesterday.

She said she heard her son shouting, and through the window saw Mohd Sidqi running helter-skelter to escape the snake.

"He managed to escape as the reptile had changed its focus on the family cat," said Munirah. "Fortunately, the cat also managed to run away."

She alerted her husband who was working in Sik at the time. He contacted the Civil Defence Department.

Munirah said the snake, which was hiding in some bushes, was caught some four hours later.