Search For Missing Hiker At Gunung Batu Putih Suspended, Team Camps Overnight

IPOH, May 27 (Bernama) -- The third day of the search and rescue (SAR) operation for a female hiker who went missing after climbing Gunung Batu Putih near Tapah on Saturday has yet to yield results and will resume tomorrow. 

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) operations assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said 12 members of the SAR team would remain overnight at the search location at the summit tonight after the operation was suspended late this evening. 

“The SAR team, which entered the operation area this morning via an AW139 aircraft at Bukit Berapit 2, reached the Kem Sukaneka area after a five-hour trek along the mountain ridge. 

“The search started from the junction leading to Kem Sekali (located between Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu), based on the latest information and the timeline of the victim’s movement as well as previous search efforts,” he said in a statement. 

He said today’s search operation also involved the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), with a larger deployment of personnel. 

The operation was suspended at 6 pm and will resume tomorrow at 8 am, he said. 

Hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, was reported to have started the Trans Spencer Chapman trail at 2 am on May 23 with 13 others and two mountain guides via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route. 

She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health issues and stopped, however Jaslinda was reported to have continued her ascent to the summit and was last seen by a Forestry mountain guide at 7.30 am on Sunday. 

-- BERNAMA