KUALA LUMPUR – More than a year after her six-year-old son was taken by his father and brought to Malaysia, a heartbroken Singaporean mother is once again pleading for his safe return.
Cuban-born Daylin Limonte Alvarez, 36, has not seen her son, Caleb Liang Wei Luqman Limonte, since May 2024.
Speaking with Scoop, she described how the separation has left her in constant anguish while fuelling her determination to never give up.
“Every single day is hard. Caleb has been with me since birth. At first, I struggled to find purpose without him. Now my only purpose is to bring him back,” she said.
The nightmare began on May 25 last year when Caleb’s father, Luqman Liang Hsien Masoon, took him for a weekend visit but never returned. Immigration records later confirmed that both father and son entered Malaysia on May 27 and have remained there ever since.
In an effort to generate leads, Alvarez has launched the Help Find Caleb campaign, offering a RM50,000 reward for information that would reunite her with her son. She has urged the public to help keep Caleb’s case in the spotlight, emphasising the crucial role community awareness can play.
“We truly appreciate any support you can provide. Please share this message with as many people as possible. I will never stop until Caleb is home,” she said.
Alvarez’s last video call with Caleb on June 3, 2024, remains a painful memory. She recalled how he appeared withdrawn and fearful at first, but her words soon sparked his familiar spirit.
“He looked nothing like the bright, chatty boy I knew. But when I spoke to him in Spanish, our secret language, his face lit up. He smiled and said, ‘movie night.’ That was my Caleb again. Then he asked his father, ‘When will you take me back to mama?’ and the call was cut. That was the last time I saw his face.”
Alvarez, a marketing officer, married Luqman after two years of dating in late 2017. Caleb was born the following year, but the couple separated in 2019 and divorced in 2021. Initially granted shared custody, Alvarez was later awarded primary custody of Caleb.
Describing her previous marriage as “toxic”, Alvarez is confident that Luqman would never harm Caleb, though she fears he may be using their son as a pawn. “The worst he could do is manipulate our son as a way of lashing out at me,” she said.
Despite the ongoing emotional turmoil, Alvarez says the ordeal has made her more resilient. “Last night I dreamt I had found my son. I carried him and gave him the biggest squeeze. He deserves to grow up with family, friends and the love of his mother,” she said.
The Singaporean court had earlier awarded her custody, and in July 2025, the Johor Syariah Court ruled in her favour, ordering Luqman to return Caleb and directing Malaysian authorities to assist in the search.
Reflecting on the response from both countries, Alvarez expressed that Malaysia had shown more initiative than Singapore.
“It took time, but Malaysia eventually assigned an investigating officer who has been very helpful and even issued a NUR Alert. In Singapore, efforts have been far less. Attempts to reach Luqman’s parents were ignored. There has been no meaningful cooperation.”
She has also sent a direct plea to her former husband, urging him to prioritise their son’s welfare. “Please, put your agenda aside and think of Caleb. You had your mother. Why must he grow up without his? He is the one suffering most. Please, bring him home.”
Anyone with information about Caleb or Luqman is urged to contact Investigating Officer Radiah at +6013-566 5710. Updates can be found at helpfindcaleb.com and on Instagram @helpfindcaleb. – September 21, 2025