MMEA officer feared missing while hiking in Langkawi

ALOR SETAR - A Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) officer is believed to have gone missing while climbing Telaga Tujuh in Gunung Matchincang in Langkawi yesterday afternoon.

Langkawi district police chief ACP 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 Putrajaya MMEA at 12.47pm this morning.

"The motorcycle used by (Mohd Ridhaudden) is still in the Telaga Tujuh parking area and the last time he uploaded his status (on social media) was when he reached the top of Telaga Tujuh at approximately 4.45pm yesterday," he said in a statement today.

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 through WhatsApp at 5.15pm.

"He (is believed) to have gone (climbing) on his own and was not on duty," said Shariman, who also said a search and rescue operation (SAR) for the officer involved ground and air assets has been mounted.

He said the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), MMEA and the Malaysia Civil Defence Force (APM), with 23 officers and 68 other personnel as well as 15 civilians familiar with Telaga Tujuh area are 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 could not find him.

"There was supposed to be a night programme (in which he was on duty) but he didn't show up and his roommate tried to contact him but failed, so we suspected something untoward had happened before sending MMEA members to look for him.

"After searching at several locations, we found a motorcycle believed to be borrowed by him from a friend here (Langkawi) at the foothill of Mount Matchincang near to the Telaga Tujuh area," he said when met by reporters at Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre (MIEC), Langkawi.

Saiful Lizan said a mountain ranger was engaged to search for the officer throughout last night, including the search on the route that Mohd Ridhaudden was believed to have taken. - BERNAMA