Umno man pulls off rescue to avert tensions

MANOHARA: THE STORY BEHIND HER ESCAPE - Of ‘forced’ marriage, abuse and escape
Umno man pulls off rescue to avert tensions
ZAINAL EPI
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009 07:18:00

MANOHARA Odelia Pinot, a 17-year-old model of Indonesia- American descent, made international headlines on June 1 with her dramatic escape in Singapore from her Kelantan-prince husband back to Jakarta.
This is a first-hand account of the Malaysian who made it possible, Datuk Kadar Shah Sulaiman Ninam Shah, Muar Umno branch chief, who is known to both parties. The Singapore Foreign Ministry and American Embassy were involved as well.

By her account, Manohara's marriage was no fairy tale, with claims of physical and mental torture.

The marriage was arranged by her mother Daisy Fajarina and Tengku Temenggong Muhammad Fakhry of Kelantan in August last year.

Manohara was not even aware that her visit to Kota Baru was her marriage ceremony and not a social visit.

Forced into the marriage and claiming abuse at the hands of the prince, she longed to escape.But escape was impossible as she was closely watched. She needed outside intervention. This is where Kadar Shah enters the picture.

While Manohara's mother went public with her daughter's anguish and inflamed passions across Indonesia, it was a Malaysian who did the impossible.

THE NEGOTIATOR

May 21

I was called by the Palace to help solve the Manohara issue as newspapers and television in Indonesia were crying mad. I told them I would help to avoid tension and save the Palace and the State of Kelantan from being tarnished.

I told them I needed to hear both sides of the story before I could help Tengku Temenggong Fakhry and Manohara. So we agreed to meet at one of the royalty's family houses in Kuala Lumpur.

MANOHARA'S NO-SHOW

May 22

Tengku Temenggong Fakhry came to the house. There I listened to Tengku Temenggong Fakhry's side. Then I told him I wanted to meet and listen to Manohara's side of the story. Tengku Temenggong Fakhry agreed.

We set out for Kota Baru on the same day for the meeting scheduled to be held in the night. In Kota Baru, we waited at White House Kopitiam in front of Kota Baru Hospital where the Sultan of Kelantan was admitted for treatment. We waited until 2.30am but Manohara did not turn up.

JAKARTA PROTESTS

May 24

I went to Jakarta to meet Manohara's mother Daisy to cool things there. We held a joint Press conference and I called up Tengku Temenggong Fakhry to allow Daisy to speak to Manohara. Both mother and daughter spoke, listened and escape witnessed by members of the media present.

They spoke in French. The keyword that explained she was not happy in Kota Baru was "sick". Manohara told her mother in French she was "sick".

After the Press conference, Daisy sought my help to meet her daughter. She told me she had not met or spoken to Manohara for three months. My mind was racing, thinking how to help her. I still had not met nor heard from Manohara herself and how she felt.

THE PLAN, STEP 1

May 25

Tengku Temenggong Fakhry called me in Jakarta saying all of them would be going to Singapore. He said I could meet Manohara there and listen to her side of the story. However, he placed a condition. I should come alone and not bring Manohara's mother or else the deal was off. Her mother insisted on coming but I said no way as this would jeopardise my plans. I found an opportunity here to help Manohara but Tengku Temenggong Fakhry would also be present.

I told Tengku Temenggong Fakhry that he should not go because Manohara had filed a police report against him there and he might be arrested. But alas, Tengku Temenggong Fakhry was not convinced. He checked his status there and found out there was a report lodged against him but no investigation was conducted.

That meant he was free to visit the country. Then I planned that Daisy should communicate with Manohara through a third person to avoid being detected. In this way, we could plan how she could meet Manohara but plans would be changed according to the situation. Daisy agreed and the third person, whom I cannot name, also agreed.

MANOHARA'S SECRET CODE

May 28

I met Manohara and Tengku Temenggong Fakhry, together with their entourage at a restaurant in Singapore. There I spoke and listened to Manohara's story. But since her husband was present, she could not expose her intentions. However, she gave a pre-arranged sign that she was not happy by scratching her fingernail on my palm when shaking hands. Imagine the pain I had to bear... my palm was blue-black ... not bleeding. Then she slipped a tissue paper with the note that she wanted my help to bring her back to Jakarta.

May 29

The entourage went shopping before leaving for Kelantan. Manohara was left alone in the hotel. I just followed the event. Our communication with the third party was going on smoothly.

THE DRAMA AT THE LIFT

This was when we put our plan into action and the escape drama took place. Manohara, her husband and their bodyguards entered the lift to go to the cars. The lift stopped at level three where Royalties have their own access to go to their private carpark. It was at that time 9pm. I was with the mother at level one waiting for her. I had already called the police at this time but since I was not the next-of-kin, it was Manohara's mother that got the police to wait with us.

[4]At level three when the lift stopped, Manohara struggled when the bodyguards tried to pull her out of the lift to the carpark. She then told the bodyguards that the closed-circuit televison camera in the lift was recording whatever was happening.
So the bodyguards released her and at that moment she pressed the alarm button. When the hotel security staff rushed to level three upon hearing the alarm, the police, Manohara's mother and I at level one rushed there as well. Upon opening the lift, we saw Tengku Temenggong Fakhry trying to pull Manohara out.

HOLDING ON TO THEIR PISTOLS

The police, one hand holding the pistols on their waists, told Tengku Temenggong Fakhry to let her go. Tengku Temenggong Fakhry said Manohara was his wife and thus he had the right to pull her out. The police argued that this was Singapore where everyone, regardless of wife or husband, had his or her own right. After much argument, Tengku Temenggong Fakhry released her and the police took Tengku Temenggong Fakhry back to his room while Manohara was placed in another room.

PRESS CHARGES OR RETURN?

All along, I was with the police alongside Manohara, together with the mother. While some of the police officers were questioning Tengku Temenggong Fakhry, I asked Manohara whether she wanted to go back to Jakarta. She said she wanted to press charges against Tengku Temenggong Fakhry.

I then told her that if she wanted to do that, then she could not go back to Jakarta with her mother as she would need to file the charges. And that day being a Saturday, she had to wait until Monday or Tuesday for the court to sit. After much debate, she decided to go back to Jakarta with her mother.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

I quickly took her and her mother down to the waiting car where, escorted by the police, we sped to Changi Airport. That was already around 3.30am on May 31. Once she and her mother were inside the airport waiting for the flight to Jakarta, I took a deep breath of relief. I had completed my mission.

What I had done was to avert problems between Malaysia and Indonesia and save the Kelantan palace of disgrace. Now that Manohara is in Jakarta, I would love to see the couple solve their problems - as husband and wife.

Versi Bahasa Melayu

MANOHARA Odelia Pinot, 17 tahun, model keturunan Indonesia - Amerika, menjadi tajuk utama antarabangsa pada 1 June dengan pelarian yang dramatik di Singapura dari suami beliau, seorang Putera Raja Kelantan, ke Jakarta.

Ini adalah penceritaan semula oleh rakyat Malaysia yang memungkinkan semua ini, Datuk Kadar Shah Sulaiman Ninam Shah, Ketua Cawangan Umno Muar, yang dikenali oleh kedua belah pihak. Pihak Kemeterian Luar Negeri Singapura serta Kedutaan Amerika Syarikat juga terlibat.

Menurut Manohara, perkahwinan beliau bukan satu kisah dongeng, tetapi dengan siksaan fizikal dan mental.

Perkahwinan ini diatur oleh ibunda beliau, Daisy Fajarina dan Tengku Temenggong Muhammad Fakhry dari Kelantan pada August tahun lalu. Manohara tidak menyedari lawatan beliau ke Kota baru sebenarnya untuk majlis perkahwinan beliau bukan lawatan sosial.

Dipaksa untuk berkahwin dan dikatakan disiksa oleh putera raja, beliau mahu bebas. Tetapi kebebasan tidak mungkin kerana beliau senantiasa diperhatikan. Apa yang diperlukan oleh Manohara ialah bantuan dari pihak luar. Ini dimana Datuk Kadar muncul di dalam situasi ini.

Apabila ibunda Manohara membuat keputusan untuk menghebahkan kesusahan anak beliau dan menaikkan sentimen di seluruh Indonesia, seorang rakyat Malaysia telah melakukan satu perkara yang tidak mungkin.

PERUNDING

Mei 21

Saya telah dipanggil oleh Istana Kelantan untuk menyelesaikan isu Manohara apabila akhbar dan televisyen Indonesia memainkan isu ini dengan hangat. Saya ingin membantu untuk mengelakkan sengketa dan menyelamatkan maruah dan martabat Istana serta Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan.

Saya memberitahu yang saya perlu mendengar cerita daripada kedua belah pihak sebelum saya dapat membantu Tengku Temenggong Fakhry dan Manohara. Jadi kami bersetuju untuk n bertemu di salah satu kediaman keluarga kerabat Kelantan di Kuala Lumpur.

KETIDAK MUNCULAN MANOHARA

Mei 22

Tengku Temenggong Fakhry muncul dan saya mendengar cerita daripada Tengku Temenggong Fakhry. Kemudian saya memberitahu beliau yang saya ingin mendengar cerita daripada pihak Manohara. Beliau bersetuju.

Kami bertolak ke Kota Baru pada hari yang sama untuk menghadiri perjumpaan yang patut diadakan pada malam itu. Kami menanti kehadiran Manohara di White House Kopitiam, berhadapan Hospital Besar Kota Baru, dimana Sultan Kelantan sedang dirawat. Kami menunggu sehingga jam 2.30 pagi tetapi tiada kelibat Manohara kelihatan.

PROTES JAKARTA

Mei 24

Saya pergi ke Jakarta untuk bertemu ibunda Manohara, Dasiy untuk menenangkan keadaan. Kami mengadakan sidang akhbar bersama and saya meminta Tengku Temenggong Fakhry untuk membenarkan Daisy untuk berbicara bersama Manohara. Mereka berdua berbicara dan mendengar satu sama lain. Kemudianya lolos disaksikan oleh pengamal media yang hadir di sidang tersebut.

Mereka berbicara di dalam bahasa Peranchis. Kata kunci yang mengatakan Manohara tidak gembira ialah "sakit". Mahohara memaklumkan kepada ibundanya, di dalam bahasa Peranchis, yang dia "sakit"

Selepas sidang akhbar, Daisy meminta bantuan saya untuk berjumpa Manohara. Saya dimaklumkan Daisy tidak berjumpa dah bercakap dengan Manohara selama tiga bulan. Fikiran saya laju untuk memikirkan bagaimana saya dapat membantu beliau. Saya masih tidak dapat bertemu atau mendengar berita daripada Manohara dan mengetahui bagaimana keadaan beliau.

PERENCANAAN
Langkah Pertama

Mei 25

Tengku Temenggong Fakhry menelefon saya yang berada Jakarta untuk memaklumkan mereka semua akan ke Singapura.Tengku memaklumkan saya boleh bertemu Manohara disana dan mendengar cerita dari pihak Manohara. Walaubagaimanapun, Beliau meletakkan syarat yang saya perlu hadir seorang diri dan tidak membawa ibunda Manohara bersama. Sekiranya tidak, tiada perjumpaan dapat diadakan. Daisy mahu turut serta tetapi saya mengatakan tidak kerana ini boleh merisikokan perencanaan saya. Saya akhirnya menenui satu cara untuk membantu Manohara tetapi Tengku Temenggong Fakhry jugak akan berada disitu.

Saya memberitahu Tengku Temenggong Fakhry untuk tidak turut serta kerana Manohara telah membuat lapuran polis terhadap beliau dan bermungkinan Tengku FAkhry akan ditahan. Tetapi Tengku Fakhry tidak yakin dengan penjelasan saya. Belaiu telah melakukan pemeriksaan terhadap status belaiu dan mendapati ada laputan dibuat terhadap beliau tetapi tiada siasatan dilakukan.

Ini bermaksud yang beliau bebas untuk melawat Singapura. Kemudian saya membuat rancagan yang Daisy perlu berhubung dengan Manohara melalui orang ketiga untuk mengelak dari dikesan.
Dengan cara ini, kami berdua dapat melakukan rancagan untuk menyelamatkan Manohara tetapi akan berubah sekiranya keadaan memerlukan. Daisy bersetuju dan orang ketiga, dimana saya tidak boleh mendedahkan nama beliau, turut bersetuju.

KOD RAHSIA MANOHARA

Me1 28

Saya bertemu Manohara dan Tengku Temenggong Fakhry, bersama rombongan mereka di sebuah restoran di Singapura. Disana, saya bercakap dan mendengar cerita daripada pihak Manohara. Tetapi dengan adanya suami beliau, Manohara tidak dapat menyatakan keinginan beliau. Manohara telah memberikan satu petanda yang beliau tidak gembira dengan menggaru kukunya di telapak tangan saya apabila berjabat tangan. Bayangkan kesakitan yang saya terpaksa alami dimana telapak tangan saya menjadi biru kehitaman, tetapi tidak berdarah, Kemudian Manohara menyerahkan tisu secara sembunyi dengan nota yang mengatakan beliau ingin mendapat pertolongan saya untuk membawanya pulang ke Jakarta. .

Mei 29

Rombongan telah pergi membeli belah sejurus sebelum bertolak pulang ke Kelantan. Manohara tinggal keseorangan di hotel dan saya mengikuti perkembangan ini. Perhubungan bersama orang ketiga berjalan lancar.

SITUASI DRAMATIK DI DALAM LIF

Ini berlaku apabila kami menjayakan rancangan kami dan kisah pelolosan Manohara menjadi kenyataan.. Manohara, suami beliau dan pengawal peribadi memasuki lif untuk ke kereta masing - masing. Lif telah berhenti di tingak 3 di mana pihak kerabat mempunyai laluan peribadi ke kereta masing - masing.Jam ketika itu menunjukkan jam 9 malam Saya bersama Daisy berada di tingkat 1, menunggu kehadiran Manohara. Saya telanh memanggil pihak polis pada masa itu dan semenjak tiada keluarga terdekat, Daisy yang membawa pihak polis untuk menunggu bersama kami.

Di tingkat 3, apabila lif berhenti, Manohara meronta apabila pengawal peribadi cuba menarik beliau daripada lif untuk ke tempat letak kereta. Dia kemudianya memberitahu pengawal peribadi yang CCTV di dalam lif sedang merakam perlakuan mereka terhadapnya.

Apabila pengawal peribadi melepaskanya, Manohara menekan butang kecemasan di dalam lif. Apabila pihak keselamatan hotel bergegas ke Tingkat 3 sejurus loceng kedengaran.,pihak kami bersama pihak polis, juga bergegas ke tingkat 3. Apabila lif terbuka, kami menyaksikan Tengku Temenggong Fakhry cuba menarik Manohara keluar.

MEMEGANG LARAS PISTOL MASING -MASING

Pihak polis, yang sebelah tangan mereka memegang laras pistol masing - masing mengarahkan Tengku Temenggong Fakhry untuk melepaskan Manohara. Tengku Temenggong Fakhry mengatakan bahwa Manohara ialah isteri beliau yang sah dan beliau mempunyai hak untuk menariknya keluar. Pihak polis pula mengatakan bahawa ini adalah Singapura, dimana setiap orang, samada isteri atau suami mempunyai hak masing- masing. Setelah pertengkaran yang hangat, Tengku Temenggong Fakhry melepaskan Manohara dan pihak polis membawa Tengku Temenggong Fakhry pulang ke biliknya dan Manohara di bili yang berasingan.

MELAKUKAN LAPURAN ATAU PULANG?

Hingga ke akhir kejadian, saya bersama pihak polis dan Manohara beserta bondanya. Apabila beberapa pegawai polis menyoal siasat Tengku Temenggong Fakhry, saya menanyakan kepada Manohara samada beliau ingin pulang ke Jakarta. BeliAu mengatakan beliau ingin membuat lapuran polis terhadap Tengku Temenggong Fakhry.

Kemudian saya memaklumkan kepada beliau sekiranya ingin terus dengan keinginan beliau, Manohara tidak dapat pulang ke Jakarta bersama Daisy kerana Manohara perlu melakukan lapuran polis tersebut. Dan hari itu adalah hari Sabtu, Manohara terpaksa menunggu sehingga Isnin atau Selasa untuk mendapat perbicaraan mahkamah. Setelah perdebatan, Manohara mengambil keputusan untuk pulang ke Jakarta bersama bonda beliau.

RANCANGAN YANG BERJAYA

Saya terus membawa Manohara dan Daisy ke kereta, yang diiiringi pihak polis dan meluncur laju ke Changi. Dan jam ketika itu ialah 330am pada 31 Mei. Apabila Manohara dan Daisy telah berada di dalam lapangan terbang menantikan penerbangan ke Jakarta, saya menarik nafas lega. Saya telah berjaya di dalam rancangan saya.

Apa yang saya lakukan ialah mengelak masalah di antara Malaysia dan Indonesia dan menyelamatkan maruah Istana Kelantan. Kini Manohara telah pulang ke Jakarta dan saya amat berharap agar pasangan itu dapat menyelesaikan masalah mereka sebagai suami dan isteri.