TAPAH, June 1 — General Operations Force (GOF) personnel were airlifted today to assist in the search and rescue (SAR) operation for a female hiker who has been missing on Gunung Batu Putih near here since May 23.

Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said eight personnel from the GOF’s 3rd Battalion in Bidor were deployed into the search sector, with their involvement also prompted by safety concerns following the discovery of wild animal droppings in the area.

“The presence of the GOF not only enhances safety but also complements the operation through the expertise they bring,” he told Bernama and RTM at the Gunung Batu Putih SAR operations forward command post at the GOF 3rd Battalion headquarters in Bidor today.

He said the GOF personnel, together with eight members of JBPM’s Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM), eight Forestry Department personnel and mountain guides, were flown into the search area aboard an MI-17 helicopter, significantly reducing travel time compared with previous overland routes through Gunung Batu Bujang and Pos Kuala Woh.

Sabarodzi said it was still too early to determine whether today’s operation would be the final search phase, or “last flushing”, as a coordination meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Perak JBPM director Datuk Sayani Saidon said SAR efforts remain focused on the area between Kem Kantoi and Gunung Rayu, involving personnel from JBPM, the Forestry Department, mountain guides and the GOF.

Sayani said communications with the team remained disrupted, believed to be due to their location in a valley with limited signal coverage.

He said SAR operations were continuing in the area between Kem Kantoi and Gunung Rayu involving personnel from JBPM, the Forestry Department, Forestry Mountain Guides and the GOF.

Any new developments would be assessed based on information retrieved from the trail camera brought down from the mountain, he added.

Meanwhile, Bernama was given the opportunity to board the MI-17 helicopter to observe the deployment of rescuers into the search area.

The flight from the forward command post to Kem Kantoi took about an hour and involved transporting two STORM members, three GOF personnel and a Forestry Department officer.

The rescuers, together with their equipment and backpacks, were lowered to the ground using a winching technique.

From an altitude of about 2,000 metres above sea level, the vast expanse of rugged terrain blanketed by dense forest highlighted the challenges facing search teams, with the thick green canopy making it difficult to spot anything from the air.

Jaslinda Saludin, 49, was among a group of 14 hikers and two Forestry Department mountain guides who began the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition at 2am on May 23 via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, reportedly experienced health issues and stopped during the climb. However, Jaslinda later continued towards the summit and was last seen by a mountain guide at about 7.30am on May 24. — Bernama