Jaslinda Mission Highlights Red Heroes’ Sacrifices

By Mohamad Harith Mohamad Nizar

IPOH, June 17 (Bernama) — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who was lost for more than two weeks at Gunung Batu Putih, has shed light on the critical role played by personnel from the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) (Bomba) as one of the key agencies in missing-person rescue missions.

Although JBPM personnel were not the team that ultimately located the victim, the sacrifices made by these ‘Wira Merah’ (‘Red Heroes’) should not go unnoticed. They risked their own safety, endured freezing temperatures, and navigated dense jungle terrain in a relentless effort to save a life.

Senior Fire Officer I Hassanuddin Tabaddang, a member of JBPM’s Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM), said the SAR operation was activated immediately after the missing-person report was received on May 24.

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Hassanuddin and seven STORM members were deployed on the first day to rescue a male hiker before continuing efforts to trace Jaslinda from the mountain summit to Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu.

The team successfully identified the victim’s footprints that day, but severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and extreme cold, forced them to spend the night at Puncak Berapit 2.

“Two of my colleagues suffered leg injuries at the time. With everything soaked through, I had to rely on survival skills to gather firewood and keep a fire burning. It was our only source of warmth,” said the 33-year-old officer from Semporna, Sabah.

A father of two, Hassanuddin described the operation as one of the most demanding missions among the more than ten SAR operations he has participated in during his service with JBPM and STORM.

Serving as Bravo Team Supervisor at the Ipoh Fire and Rescue Station, he joined the elite STORM unit in 2017 to challenge himself and contribute more effectively to the department.

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“To become a STORM member, firefighters must excel in fitness tests, including completing a seven-kilometre run in under 40 minutes, as well as undergoing basic rescue and survival training,” he explained.

The operation also required Fire Officer KB1 Azani Ibrahim, 39, from the Kampar Fire and Rescue Station, to cancel his child’s aqiqah ceremony in his hometown in order to fulfil his duty.

Azani, who hails from Gua Musang, Kelantan, serves as a JBPM Mountain Guide and was among the first responders to enter the trail and track Jaslinda’s footprints from Gunung Batu Putih to Gunung Rayu.

With a decade of firefighting experience, Azani described the mountainous terrain of southern Perak as one of the most extreme environments, testing both the physical endurance and mental resilience of rescue personnel.

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“I searched from Gunung Batu Putih to Gunung Rayu, following Jaslinda’s footprints from around 5 p.m. until we reached Kem Sukaneka, approximately three kilometres away. We stopped briefly to rest, but conditions were extremely harsh, and we had no proper sleeping equipment.

“It was bitterly cold, with strong winds and continuous rain. We continued tracking her footprints to Gunung Rayu, where I discovered that she had turned back,” he said.

The team subsequently had to continue their journey to Bukit Berapit before descending to Pos Musoh, all while dealing with limited food supplies.

Azani noted that many members of the public still associate firefighters solely with firefighting duties, despite the department’s much broader rescue responsibilities.

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“We do not blame the public because historically the fire service has been closely linked with firefighting. However, changing public perception is not easy.

“Our responsibilities cover everything — fires, road accidents, disasters, special services such as snake removal, rescue operations, and much more,” said the father of four.

He added that his passion for firefighting stemmed from witnessing numerous fatal road accidents along the Gua Musang–Kuala Krai route during his youth.

Meanwhile, JBPM Perak Operations Division Assistant Director Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad said statistics from the past decade show the department has handled more rescue-related operations than fire incidents.

“The rescue work we conduct extends beyond SAR operations and includes road accidents and other emergencies. However, SAR missions remain one of the areas that require JBPM’s specialised expertise and resources,” he said.

“I believe the public is increasingly aware that our role goes far beyond fighting fires.”

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Kampar-born Sabarodzi, with 21 years of service in JBPM, also shared how his sense of responsibility led him to forgo Aidiladha celebrations in order to monitor the safety of personnel still deployed in the forest searching for Jaslinda.

“On the morning of Aidiladha (June 27), we experienced communication difficulties, which meant we had no clear information about the situation faced by the team inside the forest. I chose to cancel my holiday plans because I wanted to ensure they could return safely while simultaneously arranging for another team to continue the search effort,” he said.

The Jaslinda SAR operation serves as a powerful reminder of the dedication, resilience, and sacrifices made daily by JBPM personnel, whose responsibilities extend far beyond firefighting and into some of the nation’s most challenging rescue missions.

--BERNAMA