MYSTERY: MISSING HIKERS IN MALAYSIA

In Malaysia, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) maintain records of individuals who have gone missing in the wilderness. While many search and rescue (SAR) operations successfully resolve within days, several historical and recent cases remain unresolved mysteries or resulted in tragic discoveries. 

The list below outlines prominent unresolved disappearances, notable recent cases that captivated the nation, and statistical data regarding lost hikers in Malaysia. 

1. Famous Unresolved Disappearances (Still Missing) 

These are high-profile individuals who vanished in Malaysian forests or mountains and, despite massive multi-agency search efforts, have never been found: 

• Mohamad Ashraf Hassan ("Acap"): Disappeared on March 23, 2019, while participating in the 25km Gopeng Ultra Trail marathon near Bukit Batu Putih, Perak. Despite an intensive 24-day search involving hundreds of rescue personnel, tracking dogs, and local villagers, no trace of him or his gear was ever recovered. 
• Muhammad Hawari Hashim: A 33-year-old hearing-impaired Malaysian climber who went missing on May 20, 2023, during an expedition. He vanished shortly after successfully reaching the summit of Mount Everest, and subsequent high-altitude SAR operations yielded no results. 
• Official PDRM Missing Persons Registry: The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Orang Hilang Portal actively maintains records of citizens who remain missing nationwide. While not all are wilderness-related, several historical local cases involve individuals who entered deep forest reserves or mountainous terrains and never returned. 

2. High-Profile Recent Incidents (Resolved)

Several major hiking disappearances made national headlines, culminating in either rescues or tragic fatalities: 

• Jaslinda Saludin (49): Reported missing on May 24, 2026, after straying from her 14-person trekking group during the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition at Gunung Batu Putih, Perak. After a massive 14-day search involving drones, helicopters, and Orang Asli trackers, she was found safe on June 6, 2026, when she emerged near a river and met local fishermen. 
• Nur Izzati Humaira Azizul (18): Went missing on May 23, 2026, after separating from her family to walk ahead while descending Bukit Changkat Asa, Selangor. Following an intense four-day search, her body was found dead just six metres off an unmarked trail leading to an orchard. 
• Mustaqqeem Mansoor (34): Lost his way on Gunung Liang Barat at the Perak-Pahang border in October 2025. He fell behind his hiking group after experiencing distress and was found dead from hypothermia near the peak two days later. 
• Steven Tan Kim Huat (45): Went missing on March 14, 2023, while hiking alone at Bukit Beruang, Melaka. His body was found dead four days later by a search party in a small stream near an abandoned trail. 
• Haniff Harun (47): Swept away by strong currents in January 2023 while crossing Sungai Tanum near Gunung Tahan, Pahang during adverse weather. His body was later recovered 300 metres downstream. 

3. Missing Hiker Statistics in Malaysia

According to official reports from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), wilderness emergencies have spiked drastically due to a rising interest in outdoor recreational activities among inexperienced participants: 

Time Period [3]	Total Recorded Cases	Total Victims Involved	Status / Context
First Half of 2026	52 cases	114 people	Represents a ~30% surge compared to the previous year.
First Half of 2025	40 cases	88 people	Most victims were successfully located within 24 to 48 hours.

The majority of these incidents take place in highly accessible fringe-city hills, such as Bukit Kiara Federal Park in Kuala Lumpur and Bukit Broga in Semenyih, where hikers easily lose their way after straying from designated trails. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat,K.L

23 June 2026: 7.05 a.m