Renewed hope in search for missing Adelaide mother ‘Anna’ Jenkins who went missing in Malaysia

MALAYSIAN authorities have brought in new, more experienced investigators to boost the search effort for missing Adelaide woman Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins, who vanished in Penang more than two months ago.

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MALAYSIAN authorities have brought in new, more experienced investigators to boost the search effort for missing Adelaide woman Annapuranee “Anna” Jenkins, who vanished in Penang more than two months ago.

It came as Mrs Jenkins’ family received an apology from Malaysian police over the way they were treated by one of its officers.

Mrs Jenkins, of Glenelg South, right, disappeared on December 13 while in Penang to visit her sick 101-year-old mother.

The 66-year-old mother and grandmother was in the Malaysia with her husband of more than 40 years, Frank Jenkins, 78.

Annapuranee Jenkins with husband Frank, the day before she disappeared.

Local police say Mrs Jenkins vanished after she travelled alone in an Uber cab towards her mother’s nursing home but was dropped off, at her request, 4km away.

Mr Jenkins, the couple’s daughter Jen Bowen, 39 and Brisbane-based son, 38, whose job prevents him from being identified, continue to make regular trips to Penang to help search for Mrs Jenkins.

They also have hired Gold Coast-based protection and security firm Panoptic Solutions, which comprises military and police veterans, to assist. The family fears Mrs Jenkins may have been abducted, suffered a medical episode or had a mental breakdown, having displayed signs of mental health issues over the past 12 months.

Ms Bowen said the family had offered the equivalent of almost $6500 Australian dollars for information on her mother’s whereabouts but the reward had so far unearthed “no leads whatsoever”. “We thought money talks and surely that would get us a result,” she said.

Frank Jenkins with daughter Jen Bowen in Adelaide. Picture: Bianca Di Marchi

But Ms Bowen said the family had renewed hope of a breakthrough after Malaysian police assigned two new, more senior investigators to spearhead the search.

Ms Bowen said the family also had received an apology from the Royal Malaysia Police in relation to an officer, who had previously been leading the investigation.

The family had been concerned with the way the officer had been handling the case, she said.

“I apologise on behalf of Royal Malaysia Police where words from (the sergeant) did cause you displeasure,” a senior investigator wrote in a message to the family, seen by The Advertiser.

Ms Bowen said the family was desperate for answers and remained determined to find Mrs Jenkins.