TAPAH: Hiker Jaslinda Saludin, who was found safe after going missing in the Gunung Batu Putih area, found two notes left by the search and rescue (SAR) team at Kem Air Busok during the operation.
One of the notes shared with the media read “Kak Jas please stay in one place, people are looking for you – Hafiz”.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of operations, Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, said the notes were with Jaslinda when she was found on Saturday before being shown to the fire department.
“The note was left by a forestry mountain guide (MGP) known as Hafiz while conducting a search in the Kem Air Busok area on May 30.
“The search team focused on the route from Pos Musoh to Kem Air Busok and the note was left as an indication that the SAR team had passed through the area,” he said.
Sabarodzi said based on information obtained, Jaslinda only arrived in the Kem Air Busok area almost a week after that on Friday, a day before she was found by Orang Asli residents in Kampung Lubuk Gaharu.
“Jaslinda’s discovery of the note shows that she had been near the route that the SAR team had travelled throughout the search operation,” he said.
Jaslinda was reported to have joined the hike with 13 other climbers and two MGP via the Trans Spencer Chapman route which started at 2am on May 23 via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.
Jaslinda and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, were reported to have suffered health problems and stopped climbing.
However, the supply chain executive at a private company is believed to have continued on to the summit before being last seen on May 24.
Meanwhile, the news of Jaslinda’s rescue was greeted with relief by 15 Orang Asli volunteers from Kampung Ampang Woh here, who had previously assisted in SAR operations around Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu.
A volunteer, Mohd Hail Nizam Idris, 44, said the news eased the dismay felt by those who had left the search earlier.
“When we were told she had been found alive, we felt very relieved. Our intention was to ensure her safe return,” he said when met at Kampung Ampang Woh yesterday.
Meanwhile, Perak Health director Datuk Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said Jaslinda underwent a computed tomography (CT) scan at Hospital Teluk Intan.
“Initial examinations found that the victim did not suffer any serious injuries.
“However, she still requires close monitoring and several additional examinations to ensure her recovery progresses well,” he said.
