09-07-2025
British teen vanishes after secret flight to Malaysia
David Balisong's family has launched a donation drive to help fund their journey to Malaysia in search of their son. (GoFundMe pic)
PETALING JAYA : A 17-year-old British schoolboy has vanished without a trace after secretly boarding a one-way flight to Malaysia, leaving his family shocked and desperate for answers.
David Balisong, an A-student from Cheadle, Greater Manchester, left home early on June 6, telling his brother he had school matters to deal with, according to The Daily Mail.
Instead, he flew alone from Manchester to Kuala Lumpur. He has since switched off his phone and is not responding to emails.
Born in the UK to Filipino parents, David has no known ties to Malaysia. He left with 1,200 pounds (RM6,900) in his bank account and was granted a 90-day visa upon arrival.
David was in the middle of his A-levels and had aspired to study computer science at Manchester University, with dreams of working for Nasa.
His mother, Minerva, 50, a critical care nurse, described him as an 'ideal son' and 'ideal student', adding that the family was still in disbelief.
'We just want him to make contact and to know we're not angry. We love him and care for him more than he knows,' she said.
The Balisong family has launched a donation drive to help fund their journey to Malaysia to search for David.
