Tapah: Strong mental resilience and access to river water are believed to have helped hiker Jaslinda Saludin survive almost 14 days in the forest after she went missing on Gunung Batu Putih here on May 24 before being found safe today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Malaysian Mountain Guide Association (PMGM) chairman Muzafar Mohamad stated that based on experience from search and rescue (SAR) operations in mountainous terrain, the 49-year-old was believed to have followed a river after realizing she had lost her way. He explained that this strategy is among the basic survival techniques often used by lost hikers, as rivers provide a continuous source of water and may eventually lead to human settlements.

"When a lost person reaches a river, they usually remain close to it and continue moving along its course because it is often the safest route out of the forest. In Jaslinda's case, we believe she followed Sungai Ayer Busok from the area near Gunung Rayu towards Pos Musoh, covering an estimated eight and 10 kilometers," he told Bernama here today.

Muzafar mentioned that SAR teams had earlier speculated that if the victim was still alive, she might have been stranded in the river valley due to the steep terrain and several large waterfalls that were difficult to navigate. "Several search teams that attempted to follow the route previously were forced to turn back because of strong river currents and challenging geographical obstacles," he said.

Commenting on Jaslinda's ability to survive for nearly 14 days in the forest, Muzafar remarked that humans can live for a prolonged period without food as long as they have sufficient water. "I believe she relied solely on river water and avoided the risk of consuming unidentified plants or fruits, which could have caused poisoning," he said. He also noted her mental resilience, highlighting her ability to continue moving under difficult conditions until she was eventually found.

Jaslinda, who went missing while participating in a hiking activity on Gunung Batu Putih on May 24, was found safe today after a two-week search operation involving multiple agencies and volunteers. Meanwhile, emotional scenes unfolded at Tapah Hospital as Jaslinda reunited with family members and friends, including her husband, Haszman Othman, 61, and sister, Jasima, 52, who embraced her upon seeing her.