KLUANG: A 65-year-old Felda settler went missing on Sunday after he entered a recreational forest at Gunung Berlumut, here to look for used items and scraps.
Taib Sarip, who is from Felda Ulu Denga was last seen inthe area about 4.50pm when he set out to look for plastic bottles, empty cans, paper and boxes.
Security guard , Azman Mior, 56, who works at the recreational forest said he saw Taib, whom he knew, when the latter was parking his van at a nearby oil palm smallholding.
Azman claimed that Taib entered the forest before emerging again to lock his van, and returned to the forest to look for used items.
"He did not emerge when the park closed at 6pm. I did not suspect anything amiss so I went home.
"I later met Taib's brother-in-law at Felda Ulu Denga two hours later, and was informed that Taib had still not returned home," said Azman.
Taib's family lodged a police report at 10.30am today.
Kluang deputy district police chief, Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Zamri Marinsah said a search and rescue was being mounted for Taib.
He said the search team comprised seven personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, 10 personnel from the Civil Defence Department , five policemen from the Kampung Gajah police station and about 30 residents from Felda Ulu Denga.