The police have described the killing of Nurul Nadhirah Abdullah, five, to be cold-blooded murder and investigation papers are being prepared to bring the suspects to justice.

Johor police chief Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said his deputy, Ismail Yatim, was tasked with heading the preparation of the investigation papers to speed up prosecution.

“We are also awaiting several more reports from the Chemistry Department,” he told reporters when visiting Nurul Nadhirah or Dirang's family at the Seri Delima flats, Bandar Seri Alam in Pasir Gudang today.

He said three of the four suspects arrested, including a woman, aged between 30 and 40, were tested positive for drugs, including metamphetamine and ice.

Two of them have previous criminal records for drug offences and thefts, he added.

Mohd Mokhtar, who was accompanied by his wife, Bibi Zakiah Meraslam, offered his condolences to Dirang’s family and urged the public not to expose their children to danger and be wary of suspicious characters in their neighbourhood.

On a text message received by Nurul Nadhirah’s mother, Roselyn Alan, 25, asking for RM30,000 for the safe return of her daughter yesterday, Mohd Mokhtar said the Kelantan police would trace the sender and take the suspect to Johor.

The DNA samples from the charred remains found at Nusa Damai oil palm plantation, Masai near Pasir Gudang on Thursday have been confirmed as that of Nurul Nadirah.

The girl went missing after leaving her home to buy eggs and instant noodles at a sundry shop near her flats at 11am on March 1.

Her remains were found at about 9am in a 3.5 metre hole dug in the plantation, which was 3.5km from the flats through a short-cut.

- Bernama