'I saw the bodies of my friends and all I could do was cry': Orang Asli survivor still haunted by 47 days lost in the wilderness

KOTA BHARU – "I saw the bodies of my friends with my own eyes and could do nothing but cry."

That was how Miksudiar Aluj, 22, described her ordeal after being lost for 47 days in the Bertam forest near Pos Tohoi, Gua Musang in 2015, when she was just 11 years old.

Miksudiar and her friend, Norieen Yaakob, who was then 10 years old, survived the ordeal and were eventually found alive after taking shelter beneath hanging tree roots along the banks of Sungai Perias.

However, five of their friends who had also gone missing — Ika Ayel, 9; Haikal Yaakob, 8; Sasa Sobrie, 8; Linda Rosli, 8; and Juvina David, 7 — were later found dead in the forest.

"They died from hunger. They were too weak to get up and look for food. By then, we had no strength left.

"I survived by eating leaves and forest fruits while hiding near the river and would occasionally come out to look for food whenever I felt hungry," she said when contacted on Thursday.

Now living in Kampung Gawin near Pos Gob, Gua Musang, Miksudiar said the experience continues to affect her even after 11 years.

The fifth of eight siblings said she has never returned to the forest because of the trauma.

Although she and Norieen survived, they have never discussed what happened during those 47 days.

According to Miksudiar, the fear remains with her to this day.

"Until today, I still dream about the incident. If possible, I would like to forget it," she said.

Recalling the ordeal, she said he could hear the voices of people searching, but was unable to see them. Throughout the 47 days, she said they never encountered search teams or villagers looking for them and were surrounded only by the vast forest.

When she was finally rescued, Miksudiar was suffering from severe malnutrition, significant weight loss and emotional trauma. She later underwent medical treatment and counselling at Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ II).

Despite meeting Norieen several times since their rescue, Miksudiar said they have never spoken about the tragedy.

"I do not want to remember the incident. Besides, we are safe and happy with our lives now. Norieen is married and has a child," she said.

The tragedy began on Aug 23, 2015, when seven Orang Asli pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tohoi ran away from their hostel to avoid punishment after bathing in a nearby river without permission from their teachers.

The disappearance captured national attention as days turned into weeks without any sign of the children.

Then Kelantan police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim said the two survivors were found about 3.3 kilometres from the search and rescue operations centre at 12.15pm while sheltering beneath hanging tree roots along the banks of Sungai Perias.

Their five friends who disappeared alongside them were later found dead in the forest, turning what began as a missing persons case into one of Malaysia’s most heartbreaking tragedies involving Orang Asli children.