IPOH: Fourteen forestry mountain guides have joined the search for six people who went missing after entering a forested area through Pos Dakoh, Lojing, on Aug 29.
The team entered the area on Monday (Sept 7) in three four-wheel-drive vehicles to help in the search and rescue (SAR) operation.
"Six guides are from Perak, while the other eight are from Kelantan," Malaysian Mountain Guides Association president Muzafar Mohamad told Sinar Harian.
ALSO READ: Six hikers feared missing after entering forest through Pos Dakoh on Aug 29
Muzafar said having guides from both states was important as the route taken by the group crossed Kelantan and Perak.
Mountain guides from the respective states are required to be involved when a hiking route enters Kelantan before exiting into Perak, he added.
"The guides are directly involved in the operation. There has been no new development regarding the six missing individuals so far.
"For now, our team is assisting in the search and has entered the operation area," he said.
Perak Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (Operations) Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said the department was informed of the incident at 6.31pm on Sunday (Sept 6).
ALSO READ: Kelantan Fire Dept on standby to help in search for six hikers missing in Lojing
Gua Musang OCPD Supt Sik Choon Foo said police also received a report from the families of the six missing people, comprising four family members and two mountain guides.
The families, who are in Selangor, reported the group missing after four of them failed to emerge from the forest as scheduled on Saturday (Sept 3).
Supt Sik said checks with the Forestry Department showed that the group’s last known location was in a forested area in Perak before contact was lost.
The group entered the forest through Pos Dakoh and was scheduled to exit through Pos Kemar in Perak.
