I actually do not like to write this topic since it will arise the conflicts between two countries, Indonesia and Malaysia. However, for the last one month Media Indonesia is full with the news about Manohara Pinot. The war opinion in the mass media also seems endless, so I am moved to make a short review and state my personal opinion about this case.



Manohara who has a full name Manohara Odelia Pinot was born at 28 February 1992. So, She just turned 17 years old, too young to be involved in something serious like this. Before getting married to Tengku Muahmmad Fakhry from the Kingdom of Kelantan, Malaysia, she worked as a model in Indonesia. She is mixed of French and Indonesian.

Her mother, Daisy Fajarina said that Manohara was suspected to be kidnapped by Tengku Muhammad Fakhry. Fakhry is Manohara Pinot’s husband who married her on 26 August 2008. “I ask him to return my daughter,” said Daisy in a restaurant area of Central Jakarta, several days ago.

This story begins when Daisy and Manohara Pinot went Umrah (United Arab Saudi) together with Tengku Fakhry and his family last March’09. After Umrah was completed, Daisy, a 44 years old woman, was about going to the airport with the same airplane with Manohara and Tengku Fakhry. When she arrived at the airport, Daisy got panic when she tried to enter the private jet hired by the family of the kingdom, because this mother of two children was prohibited to enter. While the Fachry and Manohara were already in the plane directly flying to Malaysia.

Daisy said she was worried so much about her beloved daughter. She also said that Fakhry often treaten Manohara. This fact was known from a letter written by her beloved daughter. Manohara often experienced sexual violence from her own husband. She said Fakhry already raped her daughter before marriage.

The Violence experienced by Manohara Pinot is likely to be invisible from the public. If you see the picture of Manohara in a social activity of Kelantan people, “Manohara was obliged to smile,” said Daisy.

Finally, after several weeks since the mass media state publicly about the situation of allegedly tortured Manohara by Tengku Muhammad Fakhry, the Prince of Kelantan, Manohara returned to Indonesia on her own. How can Manohara Pinot escaped from the Kelantan Royalty and fled to Indonesia? The success of Manohara escape was assisted by the FBI, the American Embassy and the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore.

According to Manohara who has double citizenships, Indonesian and American, her mother and her self cooperated with American and Indonesian Embassy. At that time, the Kelantan Royal family had an agenda to go to Singapore. That was where Manohara successfully fled.

Manohara said that she had a very difficult time escaping from the Kelantan Royal family prohibition, because wherever she went was always followed and guarded by the bodyguard. She was not allowed to go anywhere, unless she’s got the permission. Daisy, Manohara’s mother, was restless waiting at the hotel lobby, because she couldn’t meet her beloved daughter. Finally, the opportunity to escape came. At that time, Manohara, her mother in law and the bodyguard were at the lift. Manohara tried to press the ‘Lobby’ button at the lift so that she could meet her mother. Her effort was definitely not permitted by the bodyguard. Manohara realized that it was the best opportunity to flee. Otherwise, she will be imprisoned in the Kelantan Royal family. Manohara dare herself screaming for help. Fortunately, there were hotel staff and Singaporean polices near the lift. Once they heard Manohara’s scream, they ran into the lift. The lift was not yet completely closed, so that the police was able to stop it. Singaporean police then interrogated Manohara Pinot of what was going on. Although she was so afraid and her heart pounding so hard, Manohara pull up all of her guts asking the police to be saved from the Kelantan Royal Family. Soon after knowing what had happened, Manohara said that Tengku Fakhry was so mad and immediately encountered the police saying that Manohara was his wife and his property. The Singaporean police were not afraid of him, and said that according to Singaporean law, every human being has a right to be free and to determine their own will. No one is allowed to force other people. The Singaporean police thread that if the Kelantan Royal Family insisted to take Manohara with them, they would put the Royal Family into jail.

Because of this rigidity of Singaporean law, Manohara was able to return to Indonesia, assisted by the FBI, The American Embassy and the Indonesian Embassy. Manohara arrived in Jakarta, Indonesia on 7.30 WIB.

Manohara’s story as revealed by her mother, Daisy, was really tragic, because it is said that Manohara had experienced many physical abuses by Muhammad Fakhry, her breast was even sliced by razor.

Manohara Pinot arrived safely in Indonesia at 7.30 WIB. Manohara was so pleased to be back to Indonesia. ‘She was happy to meet her mom’, Yuli Andre said.

The question is… Is it true that Manohara was tortured by Tengku Fakhry?

Before Manohara returning to Indonesia, I was quite emotional hearing what had happened to her, because as a woman, I can empathize how Manohara must’ve felt living like a bird in a cage. However, after her return to Indonesia, I started to observe the interviews of Manohara at various Indonesian televisions and mass medias.
After sometime.. I am not sure why, but somehow I found something odds that arouse my doubt of what was truly happened.

First of all, once arriving at Indonesia, Manohara didn’t look depressed at all. Instead, she laughed and kept smiling. I am not saying that it indicated the story as not true because probably, it is indeed her nature of being friendly and smile a lot. Even though She looks taller and mature compared to her peers, She is still a 17 years old girl. In such young age, people often forgive others easily, and simply forget what has happened. However, to most people, it will definitely arise questions to see that Manohara didn’t look sad at all. Even in every interview she had, there was hardly any tear coming down from her eyes. It is something weird to lots of people, including me, because even to the easiest going person, it will not be that soon to be able to laugh once escaping from such torture, such as sliced breast, cigarette touched, beaten, raped and others.

Secondly, after 3 days returning to Indonesia, Manohara didn’t have a medical examination yet. It is hard to be understood to most people, because commonly the victim will most likely to have it once escaping from the torture. It is very important as an evidence of what had happened to her. Instead of doing it, Manohara was so busy with TV and mass media interviews. Some sources even mentioned that she will act in a certain Indonesian soap opera. Manohara indeed had her medical examination on the fourth day after her returning to Indonesia. Is it natural?

Thirdly, soon after Manohara Pinot returned to Indonesia, there were so many pop up news relating the Manohara past life, including her mother. Some news mentioned that Daisy was once sued of a sexual harassment in France, and she was sentenced for 2 years in jail ( If I am not mistaken about how long the sentence was). There was other news telling that before getting married to Tengku Fakhry, Manohara was in a relationship with Ardhi Bakri (the son of Faizal Bakri, one of Indonesian billionaires). Some also said that Daisy was the mistress of Faizal Bakry, but it was found out by his wife, and their relationship was ended. Not long after that, Manohara who was still under age, 16 years old, was forced by her mother and the Kelantan Royal Family to get married to Tengku Fackhry.

Tracking back to Manohara’s family past life, it seems that this family is a troublesome one. Seeing from their past pictures, it can be seen that Manohara family was quite materialistic, because they always involved with wealthy people, and night clubs. Such things are not well taken by the Indonesian people of course.

Tengku Fakhry through his spokesman, Sobry, said that Manohara family was an imposter. According to them, The Kelantan Royal Family had given a lot of amount of money to daisy to pay out her debs, buy an apartment, car and etc. However, Daisy was never satisfied with this and kept demanding Tengku Fakhry to give her more money. Sobry also said that it was not stopped to that only, Daisy was also influencing Manohara to ask for money to her husband, and also teaching her to rebel her husband. Because of this, the Kelantan Royal Family didn’t allow Daisy to enter Malaysia.





But when I look at those two pictures, I am quite sure that she will not hurt her self like that. The news spread are getting confusing. Indonesian and Malaysian people are questioning who is telling the truth?

In my opinion, The case of Manohara has increased the tension between Indonesian-Malaysian relationship which is not getting too well lately. I myself cannot give any judgment of who is right or wrong. I just try to see this case as a common ordinary people.

I personally think that whatever the problem is, it is not allowed for whoever it is, man or woman, any country citizen, any skin colors, royal family or ordinary people, to force and torture other people. Maybe it is true that Manohara family, especially her mother, Daisy, are materialistic, and that she forced Manohara to marry Tengku Fachry for money and power. However, even though it is true, it is not an excuse for Tengku Fachry to torture Manohara Pinot. If Manohara family is materialistic, Tengku Fakhry must’ve known this since the very beginning. If Tengku Fakhry still decided to marry Manohara, then he must be ready to accept them as the way it is. Suppose that Tengku Fakhry didn’t like Manohara and her mother, then why didn’t he get divorce and find other woman?. It’s also weird knowing that Tengku Fakhry and his family not allow Manohara to meet or speak with her mother and family. If he did not do something wrong then why he prohibited Manohara’s mother to enter Malaysia?. Cause what ever reason she is her mother.

In my opinion about Manohara family, being materialistic is not always a bad thing. However, being greedy might lead to a disaster. For me, whatever reason mentioned by Daisy, it is very weird for a mother to force her 16 years old daughter to get married to a much older man, especially for a fortune. Hopefully, it will be a lesson for us all and also Manohara and Tengku Fakhry families can learn from what had happened and trying not to repeat the same mistake. I still in the position of not blaming anyone, either Manohara, her mother and Tengku Fakhry. However, the truth is not yet revealed.

The recent news (June 22 2009), Manohara and her mother are trying to sue Tengku Fachry and Sultan of Kelantan. One member of the Kelantan Royal family, Datuk Kadarsyah, who has been helping Manohara said that if Tengku Fakhry and Sultan of Kelantan are proven guilty, they will be put into jail. If it ever happens, it will be a historical moment because there’s no Royal family of Kelantan palace has been put into jail before, because they cannot be touched with the Malaysian law. It can be a good starting point for Malaysian because everyone should be under the law. Every quality person must have his/her sentence according to the country’s law, regardless of any royal blood, governmental power, or whatever it is.

I hope that Indonesian and Malaysian people not take this case as an international conflict, because I think this case is pure family or marriage conflict. I believe that Malaysian law will do their best to solve this case.

So, what do you think?

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