LACHAU: The search for one Reggie Jumbu, a 56-year-old man who went missing last Thursday at Sungai Tatai in Empili, Sri Aman was called off yesterday afternoon due to lack of clues.
The operation was unsuccessful after a search within a radius of 10 kilometres inland and six kilometres along a nearby river.
This was confirmed by Fire and Rescue Department Sri Aman Zone 3 chief, Nik Muhammad Afiq Nik Roslan, when contacted yesterday.
He said the victim’s family members and villagers would still continue the search. If they found any new leads, then the search and rescue (SAR) team would resume the operation.
“The family has agreed to have the SAR operation put on hold until a new lead is found,” he said.
According to the family, Reggie used a boat to check on his traps, but attempts to track it was unsuccessful.
“In fact, we have also searched other locations such as places where he would normally go hunting, but we had no positive result,” he said.
Afiq advised the family members and the public in general to tell others of their plans or intentions when they were about to go somewhere alone.
“If possible, it is advisable to carry a handphone with a GPS app when going out to a forest so that a SAR team can quickly locate you if you got lost,” he said.
Sri Aman District Civil Defence Officer, Captain Siti Huzaimah Ibrahim, said the SAR operation yesterday entered its third day after Reggie got lost.
“The SAR team was divided into four teams which consisted of firemen, policemen and villagers. They searched around Sungai Tatai, and along an oil palm estate road from Selanjan main road up to Sungai Tatai,” she said.
Last Thursday, according to the younger brother, Rabin Tanang, Reggie went out as early as 6am to check fishing hooks and traps he had installed in Sungai Tatai. He used a blue barrel which had been modified into a boat.
Subsequently, Reggie failed to return home and the next day, his disappearance was reported at Sri Aman police station.
Reggie was wearing a blue shirt, black pants and he carried a machete.
