JOHOR BARU: A search-and-rescue
operation is underway for two Singaporeans believed to be missing at
Gunung Pulai in Kulai, Johor. The duo were reported missing in the forest at about 5.55pm on Monday (Feb 5).Kulai
district police chief Dzulkhairi Mukhtar said the operation involved 28
officers from the state fire and rescue department, police and state
forestry department.
“As of 11am today, the two Singaporeans, a man and a woman, have yet to be found,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.Singapore's
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that the Singapore
consulate-general in Johor Baru is in contact with local authorities
which are coordinating the search operations. "Officials
from the consulate-general are in the Gunung Pulai area to assist the
affected Singaporean families," a spokesperson from MFA said.
China Press Johor reported on
Monday that the mountain was closed and the hikers entered through a
mountain trail. The report also said it is believed that the woman hurt
herself and the man tried to call for help on his phone. The
report quoted residents in the area as saying that the pair parked
their Singapore-registered car in front of a house and entered the
mountain trail at about noon.Several posts on Facebook identified the woman as Clarice or Lum Jie. Facebook user Aiping Chua said she might have been in the company of someone by the name of Dominick Tan. Another
friend, Chloe Quek, wrote that Lum left her house at about 8am on
Monday morning and was last seen in a green top, tights, backpack and
running shoes.
"We are very worried for her and grateful if you may help share this post or have a look out for her," Ms Quek said.
Source: Bernama/hm