SARIKEI, Oct 21: Firefighters have launched a search and rescue (SAR) operation for a 72-year-old man who has gone missing after failing to return home since yesterday.
The Fire and Rescue Department operations centre here said in a statement today that Liong Kheng Onn went fishing at Sungai Rusa, Sungai Mawa Sarikei at about 5pm yesterday.
“Liong left the house on a motorcycle and he was last seen wearing a yellow-green striped t-shirt and grey shorts.
“His family began to worry after he failed to return home by 9pm. This prompted his son, Siaw Hua, to contact other family members and friends to check on his whereabouts,” the statement said.
Upon searching the surrounding area, the family search team found Liong’s motorcycle, his slippers, as well as his fishing gear.
Worried over his father’s safety, Siaw Hua lodged a missing persons report at the Sarikei police station this morning.
The Sarikei fire station chief Mahmudin Narudin led a 28-member SAR team which included four firefighters, four police officers and 20 villagers.
The SAR operations began at 8am today.
The search party was divided into two groups, one on land and another group covered the river with the help of a villager’s boat. The entire search area covered a 5km radius.
As of press time, the SAR for Liong is still ongoing. – DayakDaily
