KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIA - Police have arrested a 15-year-old girl for allegedly trying to kill her mother by smothering her with a sarong laced with formic acid or cuka getah.

The plot is believed to have been hatched by the girl's 25-year-old stepmother, who had also been arrested. The stepmother is said to be jealous of the husband's first wife.

The girl, who is very friendly with the younger wife, allegedly tried to kill her mother on Thursday night. Her mother is a staff member of the state Land and Survey Department.

Papar police chief Deputy Supt Nek Zaidi Zakaria said the stepmother's involvement came to light after police read SMS exchanges between her and the girl.

He said the 38-year-old mother was asleep in her house at Kampung Beringgis, some 20km from the city, at about 11.30pm when she was awakened by a burning sensation on her face.

The woman fended off her attacker and was shocked to discover that it was her own daughter. Family members and neighbours rushed the victim to hospital.

She lodged a police report the next day.

Police first picked up the girl and subsequently arrested the stepmother, who was from the northern Kota Marudu district.

Supt Nek Zaidi said initial investigations showed that the stepmother had given the girl the formic acid on Nov 9 at a shopping centre and later sent her several SMSes ordering the girl to kill her mother.

The Star/Asia News Network