TAPAH, June 7 — Female hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who was found safe yesterday after going missing for 14 days at Gunung Batu Putih, remains in stable condition but requires further treatment and monitoring at Tapah Hospital.

Perak Health Director Datuk Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said Jaslinda underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan at Teluk Intan Hospital early this morning as part of efforts to assess her condition.

“Initial examinations found that the victim did not suffer any serious injuries. However, she still requires close monitoring and several additional examinations to ensure her recovery progresses well,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

He said the duration of her hospital stay would depend on her recovery progress and the outcome of further medical assessments.

Jaslinda was found in a weak condition near Kampung Lubuk Gaharu, Pos Musoh, at about 5pm yesterday by a resident of the village.

She was reported missing while taking part in the Trans Spencer Chapman hiking expedition on May 23 along the Pos Gedung–Gunung Bah Gading–Gunung Batu Putih–Kuala Woh route with 13 other participants and two Forestry Mountain Guides. — 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

TAPAH, June 1 — General Operations Force (GOF) personnel were airlifted today to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) operation for a female hiker who has been missing on Gunung Batu Putih near here since May 23.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said eight personnel from the GOF’s 3rd Battalion in Bidor were deployed into the search sector, with their involvement also prompted by safety concerns following the discovery of wild animal droppings in the area.

“The presence of the GOF not only enhances safety but also complements the operation through the expertise they bring,” he told Bernama and RTM at the Gunung Batu Putih SAR operations forward command post at the GOF 3rd Battalion headquarters in Bidor today.

He said the GOF personnel, together with eight members of JBPM’s Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM), eight Forestry Department personnel and mountain guides, were flown into the search area aboard an MI-17 helicopter, significantly reducing travel time compared with previous overland routes through Gunung Batu Bujang and Pos Kuala Woh.

Sabarodzi said it was still too early to determine whether today’s operation would be the final search phase, or “last flushing”, as a coordination meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Perak JBPM director Datuk Sayani Saidon said SAR efforts remain focused on the area between Kem Kantoi and Gunung Rayu, involving personnel from JBPM, the Forestry Department, mountain guides and the GOF.

Sayani said communications with the team remained disrupted, believed to be due to their location in a valley with limited signal coverage.

He said SAR operations were continuing in the area between Kem Kantoi and Gunung Rayu involving personnel from JBPM, the Forestry Department, Forestry Mountain Guides and the GOF.

Any new developments would be assessed based on information retrieved from the trail camera brought down from the mountain, he added.

Meanwhile, Bernama was given the opportunity to board the MI-17 helicopter to observe the deployment of rescuers into the search area.

The flight from the forward command post to Kem Kantoi took about an hour and involved transporting two STORM members, three GOF personnel and a Forestry Department officer.

The rescuers, together with their equipment and backpacks, were lowered to the ground using a winching technique.

From an altitude of about 2,000 metres above sea level, the vast expanse of rugged terrain blanketed by dense forest highlighted the challenges facing search teams, with the thick green canopy making it difficult to spot anything from the air.

Jaslinda Saludin, 49, was among a group of 14 hikers and two Forestry Department mountain guides who began the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition at 2am on May 23 via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, reportedly experienced health issues and stopped during the climb. However, Jaslinda later continued towards the summit and was last seen by a mountain guide at about 7.30am on May 24. — Bernama