Mentally Challenged Man Reported Missing In Batu Kurau

IPOH, June 1 (Bernama) -- A man with a mental disability has been reported missing after leaving his home and is believed to have entered a bushy area near his residence in Simpang 4, Anak Kurau, near Batu Kurau, on Saturday.

Selama police chief ACP Sarudin Samah said Zakaria Shamsuddin, 42, was last seen at about 4 pm when he left through the back door of his house and headed towards a bushy area located about 300 metres from the residence.

He said the victim was initially followed by his stepson, but disappeared from sight in an instant when the latter stopped briefly to tie his shoelaces.

“While his stepson lowered his head to tie his shoelaces, the victim was still in front of him. However, when he looked up again, the victim had disappeared and could not be located.

“The victim is a person with a mental disability and is believed not to have taken his prescribed medication for the past two or three days,” he told Bernama today.

He urged members of the public with any information on the whereabouts of the individual to come forward by contacting Sergeant Major Razak Abdul Ghani at 010-2096227, the Selama District Police Headquarters (IPD) at 05-8394222, or the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarozi Nor Ahmad said the victim had yet to be found although the search and rescue (SAR) operation entered its second day today.

“The second day of the search operation was carried out by dividing personnel into nine teams comprising members of JBPM, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the JBPM K9 Unit and members of the public.

“The search focused on Sectors A, B, C and D, covering an area of approximately nine square kilometres around the location where the victim was reported missing. The operation applied the LAST concept and fan-searching techniques to locate the victim,” he said tonight.

He said today’s operation involved 13 JBPM personnel, 10 PDRM personnel, three APM members, three K9 Unit members and 16 civilians. However, the victim had still not been found when the operation ended at 5 pm.

“At 5 pm, the operation commander reported via the Government Integrated Radio Network (GIRN) that the search operation had been temporarily suspended on the instruction of the district police chief after obtaining approval from the Perak police chief. Search efforts will resume once new leads are found,” he said.

-- BERNAMA