Search area for missing senior citizen widens

KOTA KINABALU: The search and rescue (SAR) mission to find a missing senior citizen who got lost at the Mangkupa Forest at Kampung Popok, Kota Marudu has been intensified, with the search area widened to a 20kilometre radius.

Malaysian Civil Defence Force (MCDF) Sabah director Colonel Mulliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin disclosed that the search for Yanting Baran, 68, went to the mangrove area at 11.30am on June 6, had entered its sixth day yesterday.

Mulliadi said his team would be conducting their search on both land and water, adding that the mission would start from the mangrove forest right up to the beach.

He said his team would be using inflatable boats and drones to acquire better aerial views.

Mulliadi disclosed this during the handing over ceremony of the Operation Vehicle and Emergency Logistics to MCDF at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) yesterday.

Although there had been no luck in finding Yanting, he said the MCDF team would continue with its efforts pending further instructions from the police.

“The SAR team will continue its search efforts and we will wait for further instructions from the police on whether or not the search should be continued,” he said.

It is understood that the search will continue for at least two to three more days.

On a separate note, Mulliadi informed the media that there would be 2,307 MCDF personnel on duty during the upcoming festive season.

“All our personnel will be stationed at the various main roads in Kota Kinabalu. They will be providing assistance to road users, if needed.

“Each of our personnel will be placed at 13 of the most frequently-accessed roads in Sabah. They will be providing services such as tyre replacements, worn brake replacements and they will also be providing pregnancy assistance, if needed,” said Mulliadi.