KANOWIT, June 1 — A 32-year-old man is feared drowned after a boat carrying seven passengers capsized near SK Nanga Balang in Gaat, Kapit, this morning.

The victim, identified as Spielberg Dylan Sekunyir, was reported missing following the incident, while six other passengers managed to reach safety.

According to the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), an emergency call regarding the incident was received at 9.28am.

A spokesperson for the department said firefighters from the Kapit Fire and Rescue Station (BBP Kapit) were dispatched to the scene after first proceeding to the Kapit police station to obtain information on the incident.

“The boat was reported to have capsized with seven people on board. Six passengers were rescued safely, while one male passenger, aged 32, remains missing and has yet to be found,” the spokesperson said.

A team comprising three firefighters travelled to the location in a Bomba utility vehicle.

As of the latest update, the victim had not been located and search efforts were being coordinated. — The Borneo Post

IPOH, June 6 — A man with mental disabilities who was reported missing after leaving his home in Simpang 4, Anak Kurau, near Batu Kurau last Sunday was found dead in a plantation area near Teratak Afrina Chalet today.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the department received an emergency call on the discovery of the body of Zakaria Shamsudin, 42, at 12.19 pm.

He said firefighters found the body about 500 metres from where the fire engine was stationed, and police later confirmed it was Zakaria, who had been reported missing nearly a week ago.

“The victim’s body was handed over to the police for further action,” he said in a statement today.

On June 1, Zakaria was reported missing after leaving his home at about 4 pm. He was last seen walking with his stepson towards a bush area about 300 metres from the house before disappearing when the boy stopped to tie his shoelaces.  — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, June 9 — A total of 27 semi-wooden and semi-concrete houses were destroyed in a fire that broke out in Kampung Gok Kapor here this afternoon. 

Kelantan Police Chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said no fatalities or injuries were reported in the incident, which affected an area of about 2.43 hectares.

“”The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) received an emergency call at 12.34 pm and arrived at the scene six minutes later. Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control before completely extinguishing it at 5.30 pm,” he said in a statement last night. 

He said the operation involved 38 officers and personnel from the Kota Darul Naim, Kota Bharu and Tunjong Fire and Rescue Stations, as well as the Kota Bharu volunteer fire brigade, assisted by four fire engines, two water tankers, five fire motorcycles and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services van.

According to him, witnesses reported seeing smoke and flames at about noon before the fire spread rapidly due to the close proximity of the houses.

Mohd Yusoff said preliminary investigations found no evidence of criminal elements or foul play, while the JBPM forensic team is conducting further investigations to determine the cause of the fire. 

“The estimated losses have yet to be determined and are currently being assessed by the relevant authorities,” he added. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — A river fisherman is feared to have drowned after he was believed to have been swept away while attempting to swim across Sungai Pahang near Kampung Peragap, Temerloh, today.

The victim, Samsul Azmi Ishury, 41, was reported missing at about 7.30am, prompting a search and rescue (SAR) operation by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), according to an Utusan Malaysia report today.

Temerloh Fire and Rescue Station operations commander PBK II Muhammad Lutfi Burn Abdullah said his team received an emergency call at 7.30am before deploying firefighters to the scene.

He said initial information from witnesses indicated that the victim had tried to swim across the river before being carried away by strong currents and feared drowned.

Muhammad Lutfi said search efforts are currently focused along the river with assistance from police.

He added that the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from the Bukit Angin Fire and Rescue Station had also been alerted to assist in the operation.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

BATU PAHAT, June 7 — A fire that destroyed about 80 per cent of MCA’s office in Yong Peng yesterday has disrupted the party’s preparations for the upcoming Johor state election, its Youth chief Ling Tian Soon said.

Ling said MCA is considering relocating its operations to a temporary premises after investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department are completed.

“This incident will affect MCA because the building has long served as the party’s operations centre. We may need to find a temporary location to continue our preparations for the state election,” he told Bernama today.

The Yong Peng assemblyman said the blaze destroyed the building’s public address system, newly installed air-conditioning units, furniture, as well as documents and equipment used for community programmes.

He said the loss was also deeply felt by the local Chinese community, many of whom regarded the 70-year-old building as a landmark and a hub for community activities.

“Everyone feels saddened by the loss of an iconic building in Yong Peng. I ask the public to remain patient.

“MCA will make plans moving forward to ensure it continues serving as a centre for community and family activities in the area,” he said.

According to Ling, the building, measuring about 100 feet long, 70 feet wide and 20 feet high, had hosted a wide range of activities, including meetings, dance classes, exercise sessions, lion dance training and karaoke programmes held four times a week.

“Although the fire mainly spread through the upper section of the building, the entire interior is no longer usable, and all activities have been temporarily suspended,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call on the incident at 8.28pm yesterday.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and fully extinguished it by 9.56pm. — Bernama

DUNGUN, June 8 — A man who was injured in his leg while climbing Gunung Chemerong near Pasir Raja Forest Reserve here was rescued by firefighters in an operation today.

Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) deputy director, Senior Fire Superintendent I, Shahrin Yusmar Mat Yusof said his department received an emergency call regarding the incident at 1.21pm yesterday before six firefighters were rushed to the location to carry out the rescue operation.

He said the climbing activity was attended by 27 participants, including eight women from the Teachers and Staff Club of SMK Puncak Alam 3, Selangor, as well as four mountain guides.

He said that when the report was received, the participants were at the Sungai Bangan Waterfall area on Mount Chemerong and the victim was in stable condition.

“The 48-year-old male participant suffered a leg injury and was unable to walk due to fatigue from climbing so he had to ask for help from the fire department to be taken out of the mountain,” he said when contacted today.

Shahrin Yusmar said the distance to the location from the foot of the mountain was seven kilometres and it took six hours to reach the location.

“The victim was successfully taken out and safely arrived at the Fire Control Post (PKB) at the foothill of Mount Chemerong at 11.55 am this morning and was handed over to the medical team for further action,” he said.

Shahrin Yusmar said the rescue operation faced difficulties due to the rainy weather and the mountainous terrain which is winding and steep. — Bernama

TAPAH, June 3 — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, at Gunung Batu Putih here will continue on a smaller scale from tomorrow, led by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Tapah district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the decision was reached at a SAR coordination meeting chaired by Batang Padang district officer Ahmad Redhauddin this afternoon.

“However, police will continue to monitor the situation and carry out further investigations into the victim’s disappearance at Gunung Batu Putih.

“We will take statements from the 14 individuals who participated in the hiking trip with the victim and anyone with information is urged to come forward and assist police in the search efforts,” he said at a press conference at the Tapah district police headquarters here today.

Tapah district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the decision to scale down the operation was made at a SAR coordination meeting this afternoon. — Bernama pic

He said the SAR operation had involved various agencies, including the police, JBPM, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Forestry Department, personnel from the 3rd Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF), Forestry Mountain Guides (MGP), as well as public volunteers.

Abdul Malik said the previous SAR operation, which lasted 11 days, involved a total of 116 personnel.

“So when we decided to scale down the operation, it will be led by the JBPM under its SAR SOP (standard operating procedure), with the assistance of local residents and NGOs (non-governmental organisations),” he said.

Abdul Malik added that the decision was made after 95 per cent of the Gunung Batu Putih hiking area had been searched during the SAR operation, using various methods deployed by the JBPM in efforts to locate the victim.

“(In addition), five personnel from JBPM and four from the 3rd Battalion of the GOF were injured, which is also one of the factors being taken into account,” he said.

Therefore, he said careful planning was required to avoid wastage of energy and to ensure the safety of rescuers involved in the SAR mission.

Abdul Malik said police probe so far had found no criminal elements in Jaslinda’s disappearance, however 13 individuals who joined the hiking trip were called to have their statements recorded to assist further investigations.

“I understand there has been a lot of talk on social media about Ah Long (loan sharks), but so far our investigation has found no criminal elements in Jaslinda’s disappearance. We are focusing on the search at Gunung Batu Putih,” he said.

He said, with that, the Forward Command Posts for the Gunung Batu Putih SAR operation at Surau At-Taqwa and the Sultan Idris II Power Station in Kuala Woh would be closed today.

Jaslinda was reported to have begun the Trans Spencer Chapman trek at 2am on May 23 with 13 other participants and two MGPs, via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health problems and stopped along the way. However, Jaslinda was reported to have continued towards the summit and was last seen by an MGP at 7.30am on May 24. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — A man was found dead inside a vacant two-storey building on Jalan Dato Onn Jaafar in Ipoh, Perak, on Tuesday.

According to The Star, Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the discovery was made after police requested assistance to gain entry into the locked premises at about 1.25pm.

He said a team from the Ipoh Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene six minutes later and found the building’s entrance secured with a locked metal grille.

Firefighters then used a power saw to cut through the grille before entering the building.

Sabarodzi said that upon entering the premises, they found a man on the first floor.

The victim was later pronounced dead at the scene by police.

The body was subsequently handed over to the authorities for further action.

The operation, involving six firefighters and five police personnel, ended at 1.55pm.

IPOH, June 6 — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing in the Gunung Batu Putih area, has entered its 14th day without any new leads, although the search has continued on a smaller scale since Thursday.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said that throughout the operation, several items were found at various locations such as river areas, hill slopes and the paths taken, but after verification, it was confirmed that these items did not belong to the victim.

He said that as of Thursday, eight members of the Special, Tactical and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM) and two Forest Mountain Guides (MGP) were still involved in the search sector location, and all of them safely exited at 11.30 am.

“Yesterday, there were five search teams consisting of members from the Forestry Department and MGP who entered the search sector location.

“The group of Orang Asli community members who have been involved in the search since June 3 are still in the search sector, but it is reported that there have been no findings so far,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Sabarodzi said that so far, the Perak JBPM had received many volunteer applications to participate in the joint search, but through screening and coordination with Forestry Department officers, some applications had to be rejected.

“Among them (the factors for application rejection) are compliance with SOP (standard operating procedures), unsuitable time periods, insufficient equipment and facilities, as well as several other criteria,” he said.

However, he said that at the same time, there were also groups that had been allowed to participate in the search after their applications met the specified criteria.

In the meantime, through Facebook, the Perak JBPM also showed several search methods that have been carried out, including searches or reviews at several identified potential locations based on the information and clues obtained, as well as reciting the call to prayer.

In addition, the Perak JBPM also had to present the actual scenario to the public, especially to those who have never climbed a mountain or traversed thick forest paths like those at Gunung Batu Putih.

“What looks easy on the map or in pictures actually demands physical strength, mental endurance and high levels of experience. Steep, slippery, rocky paths filled with tree roots, rivers, and ravines become the main challenges that the SAR teams have to face every day,” according to the post.

Previously, the female climber was reported to have started the Trans Spencer Chapman trek at 2 am on May 23, along with 13 other individuals and two MGPs, via the Pos Gedung–Gunung Bah Gading–Gunung Batu Putih–Kuala Woh route.

Jaslinda and another climber, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health issues and stopped climbing, however, the supply chain executive at a private company was reported to have continued the journey to the mountain peak and was last seen on May 24. — Bernama

IPOH, June 6 — Hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who went missing while trekking Gunung Batu Putih near Tapah on May 24, was found safe near Kampung Lubuk Gaharu, Pos Musoh, this afternoon.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the private company supply chain executive was found by a villager, Nazri Bah Eng, at about 3 pm.

“Upon finding the victim, he informed his nephew in Johor, who then lodged a report with the authorities,” he said in a statement today.

He said Jaslinda was in a safe condition and had been temporarily placed at the residence of the Tok Batin of Kampung Lubuk Gaharu while the relevant authorities coordinated the next course of action.

Jaslinda was part of a group of 14 hikers and two Forestry Mountain Guides who began the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition at 2 am on May 23 via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and fellow hiker Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, reportedly encountered health problems and stopped the climb. However, Jaslinda later continued towards the summit and was last seen on May 24 before being reported missing. — Bernama

KUANTAN, June 5 — The Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah today officiated the opening of the Mahkota Gymnasium at the Indera Mahkota Fire and Rescue Station, a reflection of His Royal Highness’ concern for the fitness and well-being of rescue personnel.

The Pahang Ruler arrived at about 3pm and was welcomed by Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director-general Nor Hisham Mohammad, Pahang Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Mohd Razam Taja Rahim and Universal Fitness & Leisure Sdn Bhd (UFL) managing director Datuk Radha Krishnan.

The Sultan later received a briefing from Mohd Razam on the development and operation of the gymnasium, which is equipped with exercise equipment donated by His Royal Highness.

Speaking to reporters, Al-Sultan Abdullah said the donation of the fitness equipment was intended to provide firefighters, as part of the nation's front-line workforce, with more comprehensive training facilities and to ensure they remain in peak physical condition while carrying out their duties.

“This facility enables them to train more thoroughly and intensively so that they remain fit and ready to fulfil their responsibilities in assisting those in need of help,” the Sultan said.

Al-Sultan Abdullah also expressed appreciation for the vital role played by firefighters in assisting the public, particularly during emergencies and various incidents.

“The fire and rescue force is undoubtedly a very important front-line service for the state of Pahang. Whenever the people face problems, they are among the agencies that arrive at the scene and provide assistance, whether involving fires, accidents, or even animal disturbances such as snakes.

“My hope is to see members of the security and emergency services remain healthy and physically fit,” His Royal Highness added.

At the same time, the Sultan of Pahang encouraged the public to continue practicing a healthy lifestyle by actively participating in sports and recreational activities to maintain good fitness and health.

During the event, Al-Sultan Abdullah also toured the gymnasium facilities and interacted with the firefighters, affectionately referred to as the brigade’s “muscle men” (abang sado).

The Mahkota Gymnasium, which operates daily from 9am to 10pm, is equipped with 15 pieces of fitness equipment, including treadmills, spinning bikes, leg press machines, a Smith machine, battle ropes, and dumbbells. — Bernama