A journalist was slightly hurt and lost RM48,000 when she was robbed of her car and valuables by a knife-wielding man yesterday.

Chow Siew Chin, 25, was robbed as she was entering her car, parked in front of her office in Jalan Lim Hoe Lek, Kuantan to return home at 7pm.

"When I entered the car, a man in his 20s and wearing a hat, suddenly jumped into the front passenger seat.

"Threatening me with a knife, he ordered me to start the engine and drive the car. I panicked and shouted at the top of my voice and pressed the horn.

"The robber got angry and punched my face and head several times," she said when met at her house in Kuantan today.

Apart from the car, Siew Chin also lost cash RM1,000, a cell phone, a Canon camera, tape recorder, identification document, credit card, bank card, handbag and house and office keys.

Recalling the incident, Siew Chin, who was in pain, said she managed to push the car seat down before escaping out of the car.

"The confused robber then drove off in my car. At the same time, my colleague had also rushed out to investigate my screams.

"I lodged a police report and then sought treatment at a clinic nearby for pains and bruises on my head, body, right elbow, forehead, knee, arm and leg," said a traumatised Siew Chin.

Meanwhile, Teruntum assemblyman Chang Hong Seong, who was shocked and regretted the incident, urged the police to quickly investigate the case.

Kuantan CID chief Kamaruzzaman Jaafar, who confirmed receiving a report on the incident, said the case was being investigated under Section 392/397 of the Penal Code.

- Bernama