The British High Commission in Malaysia today said it would look into the case of Malaysian teenager Nur Hashidayatti Abu Hassan who alleged she was abused and unfairly detained for 15 hours by British immigration at Heathrow Airport.

"We have asked the relevant immigration authorities in London to let us know the official reasons for her being denied entry," said the High Commission's first secretary for political, economic and public diplomacy, John Marshall.

"We have also received a letter of complaint from the mother and have forwarded it to the immigration authorities for reply," Marshall told malaysiakini .

The teenager's mother, Rosnah Onek, said she sent the letter of complaint the same day the incident occurred.

Yesterday malaysiakini reported that Nur Hashidayatti, 19, who is from Tuaran, Sabah, was denied entry to England where her sister is a student at Portmouth University.

Nur Hashidayatti had left Malaysia for UK on Malaysia Airlines on Feb 23. She had with her 475 and two credits cards. Immigration officials questioned and interrogated her before deciding to deport her.

Rough treatment

Nur Hashidayatti, who has recently completed her STPM examinations, was held in a holding pen and given only a cup of water throughout her ordeal. She alleged that she was also roughly treated on her return flight to Malaysia on the same day.

"She was put on flight MH 001 but before that she was pushed by guards behind her and treated like a common criminal. The British immigration officials also ordered the captain of the flight to hold on to her passport," her mother Rosnah said.

"Upon her return to Malaysian soil, the Malaysian immigration officials were shocked that she had been treated this way as they told her that citizens from Malaysia and other Commonwealth countries did not need visas for entry.

"My daughter is very traumatised by the whole incident and I myself am very disappointed with the way she was treated. This should not have happened as I have already briefed her on what she should do," she said.

Rosnah, a UK graduate, also hopes that she and her daughter would be compensated for the entire experience. But when asked whether she would be taking legal action, she said, "I would have to consult my advisers first, but I hope that this can settled nicely."

Malaysian teen interrogated and detained for 15 hours in Heathrow