What was supposed to be a routine toilet break after crossing the Malaysia–Thailand border turned into a terrifying experience for a mother when her child was almost taken away by a stranger at Plaza Padang Besar.
Sharing her ordeal on Threads, the woman recounted how the incident happened in mere seconds while she was preparing to pay for the toilet fee.
‘She grabbed my child’s hand and walked away’
The mother said her family had just re-entered Malaysia after a trip to Thailand when her fourth child needed to use the toilet.
Her husband dropped them off near the entrance of Plaza Padang Besar and told her to settle the toilet needs while using up the remaining Thai baht coins.
The area was crowded with tourists coming and going. While she was at the toilet counter digging through her purse for coins, her child stood a little ahead, hopping around playfully.
I kept calling his name so he’d know where I was. Suddenly, a woman quickly walked past and grabbed my child’s hand. Thinking it was me, he followed her,” she wrote.
Quick reflex saved the day
At that point, the OP’s maternal instincts immediately kicked in.
“I shouted my child’s name in a firm voice. He was startled and turned to look at me. That’s when the woman let go of his hand, raised her hands as if to say, ‘Oops, wrong kid,’ and walked away.”
The mother described the woman as medium-height, round-eyed, with tanned skin and in her 30s, dressed like any ordinary person. She could not confirm whether the suspect was a Malaysian or foreigner.
“I stared at her hard to show I knew what she was trying to do. My heart was pounding. I regret not confronting her on the spot so she could be caught,” she admitted.
A cautionary tale for parents
The mother said the whole ordeal happened so fast that she was left shaken.
“Thank God my child is safe. But this is a warning for all parents — always keep your children close in crowded places. If I had been distracted for just a moment longer, things could have turned out very differently,” she wrote.
Another parent also shared a similar incident in Putrajaya, where a stranger allegedly tried to carry her child away but vanished when confronted by the father.
Both mothers urged others to remain vigilant, describing the experiences as traumatising but a reminder to never let their guard down.
