KUALA KRAI: The family of a 74-year-old man had watched with concern as his behaviour changed following his wife's death eight months ago, before he was reported missing in Kuala Pertang here on Sept 9.
Syafiq Izwan Abdullah, 33, said his adoptive father, Fauzi Deris, began seeing a psychiatrist at Sultan Ismail Petra Hospital (HSIP) in Kuala Krai on Aug 12 after the family sought professional help for him.
"After that, I took my father to see the psychiatrist again on Aug 24. We were supposed to go again on Sept 15, but he had gone missing six days earlier.
"I noticed my father started to change after my mother, Esah Mamat, passed away eight months ago because of fluid in her lungs," he told Bernama in Kampung Kuala Pertang here Friday (Sept 18).
Syafiq said his father often visited a coffee shop about 50m from their home and would always return afterwards.
However, he said his father appeared to have taken a different route that day, which was unusual for him, and never made it home.
Fauzi's nephew, Mohd Syawal Zulkefli, 30, said he realised his uncle was not at home when he returned from Isyak prayers at a nearby mosque at about 8.30pm.
"I usually keep my uncle company at night, but when I came back that night, the house was dark. I turned on the lights and searched for him, but I couldn't find him," he said.
Dawood Yapa, 70, said he saw Fauzi walking alone at about 6.45pm that day.
"I was on my motorcycle, heading home from a shop, when I saw him walking alone. I told him to go home. I knew he wouldn't want a ride from anyone, so I left him and went home," he said.
Meanwhile, Sungai Durian Fire and Rescue Station (BBP) chief Zulhilmi Baharudin said his team would continue to conduct periodic checks in the surrounding area even though the search and rescue (SAR) operation ended last Tuesday.
He said the team would resume the search should any new leads on the missing man emerge.
"Previously, we searched an area spanning more than 5km, including oil palm plantations, with the help of the K9 Unit and a tracker dog.
"We were also assisted by other agencies, including the police and the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), during the week-long search," he said.
Members of the public with information on Fauzi's whereabouts are urged to contact the Kelantan police contingent headquarters operations room at 09-745 0999 or the Kuala Krai district police headquarters operations room at 09-966 6222.
On Thursday (Sept 17), Bernama reported that police were seeking the public's assistance to locate a 74-year-old man who was reported missing in Kuala Pertang, Kuala Krai, on Sept 9.
Kuala Krai district police chief Supt Mazlan Mamat said Fauzi was last seen at about 7 pm in a plantation area in Kuala Pertang, wearing a green shirt and dark grey trousers. - Bernama
