ALOR SETAR: A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer is believed to have gone missing while climbing Telaga Tujuh at Gunung Matchincang in Langkawi yesterday (May 24) afternoon.
Langkawi district police chief, Assistant Commissioner Shariman Ashari said police received a report on the disappearance of Mohd Ridhaudden Rosman, 32, who was attached to the Search And Rescue (SAR) Division of MMEA Putrajaya at 12.47pm this afternoon (May 25).
"The motorcycle used by Mohd Ridhaudden was still in the Telaga Tujuh parking area and the last time he updated his status on social media was when he reached the top of Telaga Tujuh at approximately 4.45pm yesterday (May 24)," he said in a statement today (May 25).
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 via WhatsApp at 5.15pm.
"He is believed to have gone climbing on his own and was off duty," said Shariman, who also said a Search And Rescue (SAR) operation for the officer involving ground and air assets is being carried out.
He said the Police, Fire and Rescue Services Department, the MMEA and the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), involving 23 officers and 68 other personnel as well as 15 civilians who are familiar with the Telaga Tujuh area are involved in the SAR 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 was unable to locate him.
"There was supposed to be a night programme in which he was supposed to be on duty, but he didn't show up and his roommate tried to contact him but failed, so we suspected something was wrong which is why we despatched MMEA personnel to look for him.
"After searching several locations, we found a motorcycle believed to be borrowed by him from a friend here in Langkawi at the foothill of Mount Matchincang near the Telaga Tujuh area," he said when met by reporters at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), Langkawi .
Saiful Lizan said a mountain ranger was engaged to search for the officer throughout last night, including searching the route that Mohd Ridhaudden was believed to have taken.– Bernama
