Tapah: Family members have described missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, as a kind-hearted, caring, and generous person who was always willing to lend a helping hand to others. Her sister, Jasima, 52, said she last spoke to her youngest sibling over the phone three days before Jaslinda began the hike at Gunung Batu Putih near Tapah, where she has been missing since May 24.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jasima shared that her sister had been active in outdoor activities since her younger days and was not only passionate about hiking, but also enjoyed scuba diving and mountain biking (MTB). Jasima said they shared the same interest in hiking, although health issues eventually prevented her from continuing the activity.
Jasima recalled their last mountain climb together at Gunung Liang in 2022 after returning from a hiking trip to Gunung Rinjani in Indonesia. She cherished the memory of planning to complete the G7 challenge with Jaslinda, including climbing Gunung Yong Yap in 2019. Jaslinda had extensive hiking experience and had conquered several notable peaks, such as Mount Kinabalu, Gunung Semangkok, and Gunung Stong.
Jaslinda loved nature, finding peace of mind in the outdoors away from the hustle and bustle of city life and work pressures. Despite her extensive hiking experience spanning over ten years, Jasima acknowledged that each hike presents unique challenges, and experience does not guarantee preparedness for every situation.
The search and rescue (SAR) operation for Jaslinda continues on a smaller scale, with the family holding onto hope and praying for her safe discovery. Jasima emphasized the importance of updates from authorities, as each piece of information is significant to the family.
Addressing social media criticism directed at her sister, Jasima urged people not to make judgments without understanding the full circumstances. She stressed the importance of focusing on finding Jaslinda rather than assigning blame and expressed gratitude to everyone involved in the search efforts.
Tapah district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim previously reported that the SAR operation would continue under the leadership of the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (JBPM). Jaslinda was part of the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition with 13 other hikers and two Forestry Mountain Guides (MGP). She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, reportedly experienced health problems and stopped hiking before Jaslinda continued towards the summit, last seen on May 24.