MERSING: Drones are being used in the search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate a student from a private higher learning institution who went missing while hiking in Pulau Mawar here.
Mersing district police chief Supt Abdul Razak Abdullah Sani said a drone belonging to the Mersing district office was used on the first two days of the SAR operation to locate Muhamad Akmal Hakimi Ishak, 20, and a thermal imaging drone belonging to the Malaysian Civil Defence Force was used on Sunday (Feb 5).
He said that a drone cannot be used on Monday (Feb 6), the fourth day of the operation, due to bad weather.
"Personnel involved have repeatedly entered Pulau Mawar, comprising an area of about three square kilometres, since the first day (of the SAR operation) which involved searching forest and coastal areas.
"In addition, two Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department boats, as well as a marine police boat, were also deployed, apart from increasing the number SAR personnel from 45 to 58 people, covering land, rivers and waterways," he said when contacted on Monday.
Abdul Razak said there had been no leads thus far and the operation is subject to weather condition as the district has been experiencing rain since Sunday afternoon.
Muhamad Akmal's father lodged a missing persons report at the Kluang police station early Feb 3, after the youth failed to return home since Feb 1.
Police later received a report that the student's motorcycle had been found in good condition in an area near Pulau Mawar at 11.30am on Friday. The SAR operation was launched at 5pm the same day. – Bernama
