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

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