SEREMBAN, MALAYSIA: The distraught parents of a 14-year-old girl here are pleading for the safe return of their only child who has been missing since Monday.

Form Two student Lee Yong Hwa was seen last by schoolmates leaving her school premises in Sikamat near here just minutes after her father dropped her off that morning.

She has not contacted her parents since.

Lee Yuen Yeow, 57, and his wife Tan Mei Lee, 47 said their daughter was a soft-spoken girl who fared well in her examinations, adding that it was entirely out of character for her to have suddenly gone missing.

"My wife and I are worried sick as she has never been out on her own before. I don't even know if she has a change of clothes or enough money," said Yuen Yeow during a press conference at MCA Youth Central Committee member Jason Lee Kee Cheong's office here yesterday.

Yuen Yeow said he believed his daughter had run off with a schoolmate who has also gone missing since Monday.

"Just last week, we found out that the boy had come to the house when we were at work. We managed to get his contact number and they both admitted to having a relationship.

"I reprimanded them and told them to focus on their studies but did not pursue the matter any further. My wife took away Yong Hwa's mobile phone." he said.

Jason urged members of the public with any information to come forward.

He also said that enticing a minor is considered kidnapping and punishable under Section 361 of the Penal Code.

Those who have information on the whereabouts of Yong Hwa can contact Jason at 012-6312 898 or 06-764 9925.