MMEA officer feared missing while hiking in Langkawi

ALOR SETAR: A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer is believed to have gone missing while climbing Telaga Tujuh in Gunung Matchincang in Langkawi.

Langkawi district police chief ACP Shariman Ashari said police received a report on the disappearance of Mohd Ridhaudden Rosman, 32, who is attached to the search and rescue division of Putrajaya MMEA at 12.47pm this morning (May 25).

"The motorcycle used by (Mohd Ridhaudden) is still at the Telaga Tujuh parking area and the last time he uploaded his status (on social media) was when he reached the top of Telaga Tujuh at about 4.45pm yesterday (May 24)," he said in a statement.

ACP Shariman said the MMEA officer, who was in Langkawi on assignment at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (Lima’23), also contacted his wife through WhatsApp at 5.15pm.

"He is believed to have gone climbing on his own and was not on duty," said ACP Shariman, who also said a search and rescue operation involving ground and air assets, has been mounted for the officer.

He said the Royal Malaysia Police, Fire and Rescue Department, MMEA and the Malaysia Civil Defence Force - with 23 officers and 68 other personnel - as well as 15 civilians familiar with the Telaga Tujuh area in the operation.

Meanwhile, acting MMEA director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Saiful Lizan Ibrahim said the officer was believed to be heading to the climbing location after finishing his duty at noon yesterday before his roommate could not find him.

"There was supposed to be a night programme (in which he was on duty) but he didn't show up and his roommate tried to contact him, but failed, so we suspected something untoward had happened before sending MMEA members to look for him.

"After searching at several locations, we found a motorcycle believed to be borrowed by him from a friend here (Langkawi) at the foothill of Mount Matchincang near the Telaga Tujuh area," he said when met by reporters at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), Langkawi .

Saiful Lizan said a mountain ranger was engaged to search for the officer throughout last night, including the search on the route that Mohd Ridhaudden was believed to have taken. - Bernama