A local family has claimed that the Malaysian woman allegedly held as a slave is actually a relative who disappeared in London 30 years ago.

Kamar Mautum, a retired teacher believes the 69-year-old Malaysian woman; assumed as Siti Aishah, is her sister, and has left to London midnight Tuesday.

Kamar was accompanied by The Telegraph reporter Dean Nelson and former student activist Hishamuddin Rais.

All three boarded the Malaysia Airlines together around 12.15am last night.

Astro Awani, Magazine Editor, Zan Azlee Zainal Abidin, who is also the nephew of Kamar joined the trip.

Meanwhile, efforts by the awaiting members of the media to interview Kamar were hampered by Nelson, who reasoned that she should not be disturbed as this was a personal matter.

The media understands, Hishamuddin accompanied Kamar because she was his former teacher in secondary school.

A 30-year-old British woman, a 57-year-old Irishwoman, and a 69-year-old Malaysian were all rescued last month after allegedly suffering years of "physical and mental abuse" at the hands of the couple, Aravindan and Chanda Balakrishnan, both 67.

Police said the suspects were of Indian and Tanzanian origin that came to the United Kingdom in the 1960s.