Internet abuzz with alleged 'royal abduction'
Gabrielle ChongPublished: Apr 23, 2009 6:58 AM | Updated: Apr 23, 2009 10:41 AM
Throw in royalty, beautiful teenage model, sex, kidnap, and what you get is a sure-fire formula for an explosion of rumours and commentaries in cyberspace.
Throw in royalty, beautiful teenage model, sex, kidnap, and what you get is a sure-fire formula for an explosion of rumours and commentaries in cyberspace.
Recent reports of the alleged kidnapping and forced marriage of 17-year-old French Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot by a member of the Kelantan sultanate has surely clogged up the Internet superhighway.
A video has merged on the Internet a few days ago, showing Manohara's mother Daisy Fajarina (left) pleading for the safety of her daughter.
"My daughter is now in Malaysia, a vast country with numerous policies and regulations… I am just a mother who wants to meet her daughter."
The controversy was first reported by Indonesian newspaper Surya, which claimed that Manohara married her 31-year old husband in August last year after being allegedly raped by him when she was only 15.
Manohara has since complained of frequent abuse by her husband and her family had been kept in the dark as to her whereabouts.
A blog named 'Toughlane' has also been updated with new photos of Manohara and her husband today (left).
The photos, dated between end of March and early April - after Manohara was allegedly abducted - showed her smiling and cheerful, taking part in a dance and a gun shooting session after a greeting by kampung folk.
According to a April 22 report by Indonesian newspaper Tempo Interactive, Manohara had recounted in an e-mail that she was sexually abused by her husband, but obeyed him nevertheless in fear for her own safety.
The paper also reported that Indonesian deputy chief of mission in Kuala Lumpur Tatang Razak was told by the Kelantan sultanate that Manohara was currently safe and residing at a palace.
Another report by Indonesian entertainment gossip website Kroscek, which appeared yesterday, said that Daisy had alleged that her daughter’s husband 'treated like her like his property rather than his wife'.
The report also claimed that Manohara once escaped to Jakarta from Singapore, but was jetted back to Malaysia by her husband.
Jakarta Globe also reported that Din Syamsudin, the head of Islamic Organisation and vice-chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council had urged the Foreign Ministry and Interpol to intervene in Manohara's case.
"I am afraid she is in a very bad situation," lamented Din.
'Indonesia artistes easily bought'
Meanwhile, the blogosphere is abuzz with curiosity as well as criticism.
One blog, simply themed 'My Life My Learning', commented that the alleged kidnapping, as well as comments by Manohara's husband that 'Indonesia artistes were easily bought' were stoking nationalist sentiments among Indonesians.
The 'Unspun Blog' observed that there seem to be link between 'Malaysian Men in Power’ (MMIP) and foreign models.
"First we had the saga of the Mongolian model where Prime Minister Najib Razak and his associates were involved. Now we have the Kelantan prince and the Indonesian model Manohara.”
Another blog, 'Syamsah', opined that the emergence of 'friendly' photos on Toughlane could be attempts devised by the Kelantan sultanate to suppress the negativity surrounding her marriage.
"There is a possibility that these may be old photos deliberately posted as new and recent photos."
The blog also expressed hopes that Manohara will come out and explain her situation so as to solve all queries surrounding the controversy.
Recent reports of the alleged kidnapping and forced marriage of 17-year-old French Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot by a member of the Kelantan sultanate has surely clogged up the Internet superhighway.
A video has merged on the Internet a few days ago, showing Manohara's mother Daisy Fajarina (left) pleading for the safety of her daughter."My daughter is now in Malaysia, a vast country with numerous policies and regulations… I am just a mother who wants to meet her daughter."
The controversy was first reported by Indonesian newspaper Surya, which claimed that Manohara married her 31-year old husband in August last year after being allegedly raped by him when she was only 15.
Manohara has since complained of frequent abuse by her husband and her family had been kept in the dark as to her whereabouts.
A blog named 'Toughlane' has also been updated with new photos of Manohara and her husband today (left). The photos, dated between end of March and early April - after Manohara was allegedly abducted - showed her smiling and cheerful, taking part in a dance and a gun shooting session after a greeting by kampung folk.
According to a April 22 report by Indonesian newspaper Tempo Interactive, Manohara had recounted in an e-mail that she was sexually abused by her husband, but obeyed him nevertheless in fear for her own safety.
The paper also reported that Indonesian deputy chief of mission in Kuala Lumpur Tatang Razak was told by the Kelantan sultanate that Manohara was currently safe and residing at a palace.
Another report by Indonesian entertainment gossip website Kroscek, which appeared yesterday, said that Daisy had alleged that her daughter’s husband 'treated like her like his property rather than his wife'.
The report also claimed that Manohara once escaped to Jakarta from Singapore, but was jetted back to Malaysia by her husband.
Jakarta Globe also reported that Din Syamsudin, the head of Islamic Organisation and vice-chairman of the Indonesian Ulama Council had urged the Foreign Ministry and Interpol to intervene in Manohara's case.
"I am afraid she is in a very bad situation," lamented Din.
'Indonesia artistes easily bought'
Meanwhile, the blogosphere is abuzz with curiosity as well as criticism.
One blog, simply themed 'My Life My Learning', commented that the alleged kidnapping, as well as comments by Manohara's husband that 'Indonesia artistes were easily bought' were stoking nationalist sentiments among Indonesians.
The 'Unspun Blog' observed that there seem to be link between 'Malaysian Men in Power’ (MMIP) and foreign models."First we had the saga of the Mongolian model where Prime Minister Najib Razak and his associates were involved. Now we have the Kelantan prince and the Indonesian model Manohara.”
Another blog, 'Syamsah', opined that the emergence of 'friendly' photos on Toughlane could be attempts devised by the Kelantan sultanate to suppress the negativity surrounding her marriage.
"There is a possibility that these may be old photos deliberately posted as new and recent photos."
The blog also expressed hopes that Manohara will come out and explain her situation so as to solve all queries surrounding the controversy.
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