ANN/THE STAR – Private Muhammad Syafiq Hilmi Abd Halim, a soldier from the 7th Battalion Border Regiment, who went missing during Ops Ukur with the Sarawak Survey and Mapping Department on June 18, has been found safe.
According to the army, the Search and Rescue (SAR) team located him at approximately 11.29am on Saturday. He followed guide signs deliberately placed around the search area until he discovered the Forward Operating Base (FOB) of one of the search teams.
“He was found safe but starving and dehydrated. He was given initial treatment by a medical team,” the army said in a statement on Saturday.
Private Syafiq has been contacted by the army via telephone and will be flown to Sarawak soon.
“All travel expenses will be covered by the army,” the statement added.
The army also commended and thanked all agencies involved in the SAR operation, especially the Sarawak state government, the Air Force, the police, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Survey and Mapping Department.
“We also thank the Royal Brunei Armed Forces for their assistance and support throughout the operation. It shows that the bond between the two countries is strong. We are also grateful for the prayers by all Malaysians for Private Syafiq’s safe return,” the statement said.
An investigation board will be set up to identify the cause of the incident and to improve current standard operating procedures, the army added.
It was reported that Private Syafiq went missing on June 18 while carrying out Ops Ukur with the Sarawak Survey and Mapping Department.
Among the assets deployed for the SAR were the EC 725 helicopter from the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Augusta AW109 Light Observation Helicopter owned by the army. The search was further intensified with the assistance of the K9 unit from the police.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces also conducted searches within their search radius. – Farik Zolkepli
