Pengkalan gawi: Residents near Pengkalan Gawi, Kenyir Lake, have been left alarmed after a black panther was spotted in the area.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Khairul Afzan Hakimi Abdullah, 40, from Kampung Basung, reported seeing the animal while he was on duty at a petrol station on Saturday night. The sighting prompted him to opt for a car instead of his usual motorcycle for commuting due to safety concerns.

"I saw the animal wandering around 10 metres from the petrol station. I was terrified, but it showed no signs of aggression before disappearing from the area," Khairul Afzan Hakimi said, marking his first encounter with the animal in his four years working at the petrol station, which he commutes to daily, covering a distance of five kilometres.

Abdul Ghani Rahman, 50, an eatery worker, also shared his experience, stating that he and a colleague had spotted the wild animal while returning from work last Sunday. He speculated that the panther might have strayed from the nearby forest reserve.

"Following the viral video, officers from the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) visited the area to obtain information from residents. According to them, the animal may have lost its way before returning to the wild," Abdul Ghani Rahman reported.

A 20-second video clip of the black panther lying by the roadside along a major road near Kenyir Lake has been widely circulated on social media, further raising concerns among the local community.