Singaporean Hiker Who Went Missing in Pantai Timur Forest Reserve Found Safe and Sound

BY: Michelle Liew

The Singaporean man who was reported missing while hiking with his friend in Pantai Timur Forest Reserve, Kota Tinggi two days ago, was found safe and sound yesterday afternoon.

Kota Tinggi District Police Chief Superintendent Hussin Zamora said Jason Ren Jie, in his 30s, was found safe by members of the public after the victim managed to get out of the forest on his own at about 2.20pm.

He said his family received a phone call from the public at 2.22pm informing them that they had found a man at Kilometer 52, Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing near the Japanese Fort (Batu 15).

“Acting on the information, the Response Team was moved to the location of the discovery and the victim was safe with only minor injuries. He was taken to Kota Tinggi Hospital to receive treatment,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The search and rescue operation for the victims who entered the Pantai Timur Forest Reserve, Kota Tinggi, started at 10 in the morning, involving officers and members of the Kota Tinggi District Police Headquarters, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, the Forestry Department of the South Johor Region (Kota Tinggi) and the Force Malaysian Civil Defense Kota Tinggi District.

Meanwhile, Hussin said the victim and his friend will be handed over to the Forestry Department for further action since they did not obtain permission and permit applications to enter the Permanent Forest Reserve.

He advises the public who intend to do climbing activities, especially in the Forest Reserve area, to get a permission permit in advance from the Kota Tinggi District Forestry Office, get the services of a mountain guide and inform the nearest Police Station of the movement in and out to avoid this kind of incident from happening again.