Police Intensify Search For Missing Elderly Woman In Hutan Melintang

IPOH, Oct 31 (Bernama) -- Police are intensifying efforts to locate an elderly woman who has gone missing after leaving her home in Kampung Teluk Kerdu, Hutan Melintang, since Tuesday.

Bagan Datuk district police chief Supt Mohammad Ali Mohd Jali said a report was lodged by the niece of the missing woman, Halimah Idris, 77, who stated that she last saw her aunt around 9 am on the day of the incident before leaving for work.

Halimah, who is unmarried and believed to be senile, was last seen around 6 pm yesterday wearing a red baju kurung and a batik sarong.

“The victim is believed to have left the house alone. According to a witness, she was seen walking along an oil palm estate road about 200 metres from her house. The witness wanted to send her home, but she remained silent,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Mohammad Ali said a missing person search operation was launched, led by the police with assistance from the Hutan Melintang Fire and Rescue Station, the Bagan Datuk Civil Defence Force, the K9 Unit, and local villagers.

“The search area focuses on the vicinity of the victim’s home, which is surrounded by oil palm and banana plantations. A field command post (PKTK) has been set up at Surau Al-Ikhsaniah, Teluk Kerdu, and the search radius covers a three-square-kilometre area from the PKTK.

“In addition, police have recorded statements from the complainant and witnesses. A public notice has also been posted on the official Bagan Datuk Police Facebook page,” he added.

Meanwhile, Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) acting assistant director of operations Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said as of 6.39 pm, the search and rescue operation for the woman had been suspended and would continue tomorrow.

“The search and rescue team was deployed at 9 am to follow the last traces of the victim within a five-kilometre search radius today using the sweep method. The search operation has been suspended and will continue at 8 am tomorrow,” he said in a statement tonight.

He said today’s operation consisted of nine firefighters including the K9 Unit, police (16 members), APM (eight members) and civilians (15 people).

-- BERNAMA