Search for missing man still elusive

SARATOK: The search for a mentally challenged 60-year- old man who was reported missing in the jungle of Engkudu Atas, Sebetan near here since Tuesday night has been intensified at Salcra 7 oil palm plantation where workers claimed to have seen him the day earlier.

According to an officer of Fire and Rescue Department in Saratok, Kho Bujang, several plantation workers claimed to have seen the victim heading northward around 11.30am Thursday.

Acting on the information, a search and rescue ( SAR) team comprising the police, Civil Defence Department, Rela and Fire and Rescue personnel spent the whole Thursday afternoon searching the area, including air surveillance, of an area about 5km in radius, he said.

However, they failed to locate the victim and called off the operation at 6.30pm.

Earlier, the SAR team found a saw believed to be left by the victim.

When they resumed the operation yesterday morning, the SAR team shifted their search area about 2km to the north from where the plantation workers claimed to have seen the victim on Thursday.

As at press time yesterday, the SAR team has yet to locate the victim.

The victim, identified as Lawin Malin of Rumah Lembang, Engkudu Atas, Sebetan, about 13km from here, was reported missing by family members at Saratok Police Station Thursday morning.