HIKER REPORTED MISSING TWO DAYS AGO FOUND DEAD ATOP MOUNT LIANG

IPOH, Oct 16 (Bernama) -- A man reported missing while hiking at Mount Liang in Tanjong Malim for the past two days was found dead this evening.

Acting Assistant Director of Operations for the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Perak, Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah, said the victim, Mustaqqeem Mansoor, 34, whose address is in Sungai Petani, Kedah, was found at 3.30 pm at the summit of West Mount Liang.

"The head of operations conducted a search for the victim by applying the LAST concept and followed the hiking trail track to the last location where the victim was believed to have gone missing," he said in a statement tonight.

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He said the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation involved 22 personnel from various agencies, including the police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), Perak State Forestry Department, Slim Village Voluntary Aid Team (PBS), and Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI).

According to him, the victim and 10 friends began their hike from Fraser's Hill, Pahang, on Oct 10 and were scheduled to descend at Mount Liang, but the victim was last seen on Oct 14 around 10.30 pm at the summit of West Mount Liang, appearing to have a leg injury and walking slowly.

Shazlean said a fire department helicopter is expected to be used to bring the victim down from the location tomorrow morning at 9 am.

"Based on the report from the Fire Department Air Unit, the use of a helicopter is currently not possible due to weather factors. Therefore, a second rescue team will ascend with equipment to replace the first rescue team.

"The team will spend the night on the summit of Mount Liang, while the work to bring the victim down using a helicopter will be carried out tomorrow at 9 am," he said.

Earlier, the media reported that the victim was believed to have gone missing while hiking with 10 friends at Mount Liang, with the fire department conducting an SAR.

-- BERNAMA