Yet another Singaporean hiker got lost in the Malaysian forest and had to be rescued by the authorities after going missing for more than a day.
The 33-year-old man went missing after he got separated from his companion during a hike in the Hutan Panti Forest Reserve in Johor.
He was later found with minor injuries.
The Kota Tinggi District Police said in a Facebook statement on 17 September that the male Singaporean, Jason Ren Jie had gone missing.
They were alerted to the incident by a Malaysian man at about 3.26pm, after the latter (who was with Jason) had lost contact with him.
A search team from the Batu Ampat Police Station was deployed for the search and rescue efforts in the forest reserve.
They were assisted by personnel from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, as well as the Johor Forestry Department.
Search operations called off
However, they failed to find the missing man by 11.30pm and had to pause their search efforts until the next day because it was too dark.
The Kota Tinggi police then updated their Facebook statement on 18 September, saying that they had resumed search operations at 10am.
They then received a call from a public member at about 2.22pm, saying that a man who was suspected to be missing was spotted on the highway between Kota Tinggi and Mersing.
A response team was then sent out and Jason was then found, safe and sound, save for a few minor injuries.
He was found at about 3.15pm, according to Kota Tinggi police chief Hussin Zamora; Jason had gone hiking with his Malaysian friend at about 11.30am the previous day and they got separated at about 1pm at a climbing section.
He was sent to the hospital for treatment.
Will be punished for entering forest without permit
However, after Jason was found and rescued, it appears his nightmare is far from over – he had apparently entered the forest reserve without a permit and the Johor Forestry Department is planning to take action against him.
His Malaysian companion, 35-year-old Teng Jih Bao, could also be facing action from the authorities as well, and should they be found guilty, they face a fine of up to RM10,000 under Section 47 of the National Forestry Act.