07/06/2026

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NATIONAL 5 theSun on Sunday JUNE 7, 2026

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Hiker missing for two weeks found safe

had raised concern within the hiking community, given the remote and rugged nature of the expedition route. Authorities said she was found in good physical condition, although further coordination was underway to ensure she was medically checked and reunited with her family. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim joined the public in expressing relief over her safe return, posting on X: “ Alhamdulillah , praise be to God. Thank you to the volunteers and rescue teams, as well as the Orang Asli community of Lubuk Gaharu for protecting sister Jaslinda.” The case has highlighted the risks associated with long-distance jungle trekking in Malaysia’s highland regions, where changing weather conditions, dense foliage and limited connectivity can complicate navigation even for experienced hikers. For now, the focus has shifted from search efforts to relief as families and rescuers received confirmation that Jaslinda had been located alive after more than a week of uncertainty.

Her discovery marked the end of a missing-person case that began after she was last seen on May 24 during a multi-day trek along the Trans Spencer Chapman expedition route, which cuts through challenging terrain in the Tapah highlands. Jaslinda had been part of a 14-member hiking group accompanied by two Forestry Mountain Guides. The expedition began at 2am on May 23 via the Pos Gedung– Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih Kuala Woh route, a demanding trail known for its steep ascents and dense forest cover. She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, were reported to have experienced health difficulties during the climb and initially halted their ascent, Bernama reported. However, Jaslinda later continued towards the summit and was last seen on May 24 before she was reported missing. The disappearance triggered search efforts in the surrounding forested area as authorities worked to locate her in challenging and heavily wooded terrain. Her discovery in a nearby village area on Friday afternoon brought an unexpected but welcomed outcome to an incident that

IPOH: Relief swept through search teams yesterday after a hiker who has been missing for nearly two weeks in the Tapah highlands was found safe near a remote Orang Asli village. Jaslinda Saludin, 49, who disappeared while taking part in a high-altitude expedition at Gunung Batu Putih, was discovered at about 3pm near Kampung Lubuk Gaharu in Pos Musoh, bringing closure to a case that had drawn concern among rescue teams and fellow hikers since late last month. Perak Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Sayani Saidon said the supply chain executive from a private company was found by an Orang Asli community member, Nazri Bah Eng, who alerted her family. “Upon finding the hiker, he informed his nephew in Johor, who then lodged a report with the authorities,” he said in a statement. According to Sayani, Jaslinda was found safe and uninjured and had been temporarily placed under the care of the Tok Batin of Kampung Lubuk Gaharu while arrangements were made for her to be received by the relevant authorities.

IPOH: The Perak Forestry Department has imposed an immediate ban on day hikes and compressed hiking activities on several high-risk mountain routes across the state. In a statement posted on its official Facebook page, the department said the decision was made following a risk assessment of the affected routes and terrain conditions, with climber safety being the primary consideration. Among the routes affected is the Mount Korbu trail via the Mount Korbu Mount Gayong route, which now requires a minimum climbing period of three days. The Trans Spencer Chapman route, which passes through Mount Bah Gading, Mount Kak and Mount Batu Putih, must now be completed over a minimum of five days. Other routes subject to the restriction include the Trans Jerging route (Mount Suku-Mount Irau), Trans Batu (Mount Batu Putih-Mount Batu Bujang-Mount Kak-Mount Batu Dara) and Trans Slim (Mount Liang East/West-Mount Chondong Geliting-Mount Tumang Batak), all of which require a minimum climbing period of three days. According to the department, the Trans Titiwangsa V1 route, which includes Mount Korbu, Mount Gayong and Mount Yong Belar, must be completed over at least five days. The Trans Beratih route, involving Bukit Berapit, Mount Rayu and Mount Batu Putih, now requires a minimum climbing duration of four days. “Any changes or amendments to the list of routes will be updated from time to time based on the department’s assessment,“ the statement said. The department warned that failure to comply with the directive could result in the immediate suspension and blacklisting of a Forestry Mountain Guide identification card for six months or longer, depending on the circumstances. Members of the public are advised to refer to the department’s official portal for the latest information and updates on hiking regulations and route requirements. – Bernama Day treks banned on high-risk mountain routes Jaslinda resting at the home of the Orang Asli village chief in Kampung Lubuk Gaharu while waiting to be transported out of the jungle. – PIC COURTESY OF PERAK FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT

EV growth in M’sia racing ahead of infrastructure

heavy traffic. On proposals to mandate fire extinguishers in EVs, Shahrol said compact automotive extinguishers were generally ineffective against lithium-ion battery thermal runaway incidents. “Mandating them could inadvertently encourage drivers to remain near a burning vehicle and attempt to fight a fire they are unable to contain.” He stressed that the priority during EV battery fires should be immediate evacuation and professional emergency response due to the risk of highly toxic gases being released. However, Road Safety Association of Penang chairman Rafiq Michael Abdullah said newer firefighting technologies, including some developed in South Korea, could still play a useful role. “These newer extinguishers are designed to withstand high temperatures inside vehicles and can help suppress small fires quickly before they spread.” While such devices may not completely stop thermal runaway events, they could provide valuable time for occupants to evacuate safely or contain secondary fires in their early stages. Recent battery-related fire incidents involving Volvo’s EX30 electric SUV in Thailand have also drawn attention within the EV community. Thailand’s Office of Consumer Protection Board said it would file civil suits seeking damages and refunds after discussions between affected customers and Volvo failed to reach a resolution. Reuters reported that Volvo had previously advised EX30 owners not to charge their vehicles beyond 70% as a temporary measure while the company addressed battery module defects linked to overheating risks. The incidents have heightened discussions among Malaysian EV owners as local adoption increases, particularly over vehicle safety and emergency response preparedness.

Growing ownership placing increasing pressure on ageing highway network and charging ecosystem

Ű BY T.C. KHOR newsdesk@thesundaily.com

for operators. According to Shahrol, the perception of EVs as “second cars” may have applied to early adopters, but this was rapidly changing as households increasingly factored fuel subsidy rationalisation and future petrol prices into purchasing decisions. To address the challenge of seasonal demand, he suggested Malaysia adopt models used in more mature EV markets, in which critical highway charging corridors receive partial government support to ensure adequate public charging infrastructure. Shahrol also said the number of installed chargers alone does not accurately reflect infrastructure readiness. “Many charging stations currently operate on shared power architecture, causing charging speeds to slow significantly when multiple vehicles are connected simultaneously. “The moment a second or third vehicle plugs in, the available power drops dynamically, extending charging times, creating bottlenecks and frustrating users.” He said the issue was particularly evident at highway rest and recreation (R&R) areas because the North-South Expressway was conceived in the 1970s and constructed in the 1980s, long before EV charging infrastructure existed. “A modern high-speed EV charging hub requires a minimum power capacity of 1,000kVA, roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of 50 single-storey shophouses.” While several R&R locations have undergone upgrades, Shahrol said many continue to face power supply constraints. He added that charge point operators had turned to battery energy storage systems, but described the solution as expensive and difficult to sustain during periods of

KUALA LUMPUR: Ageing highway infrastructure is emerging as a challenge to electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Malaysia, particularly during festive periods such as Hari Raya when balik kampung traffic places significant pressure on major routes. Long queues at charging stations in Tapah, Gambang, Gua Musang and Ayer Hitam during recent festive travel periods have highlighted growing strains within the country’s EV charging ecosystem as adoption continues to rise. According to the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), Malaysia had 5,624 charging bays as of Dec 31 last year, achieving only 56.24% of its target of 10,000 charging points. Malaysia Electric Vehicle Owners Club president Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi said the shortfall could be attributed to several factors, including commercial viability. He added that DC fast chargers generally provide a faster return on investment than AC chargers, partly explaining why operators had exceeded deployment targets for DC charging infrastructure. However, Shahrol said the arrival of more affordable and shorter-range EVs, such as the Proton e.MAS 5, had increased the urgency of expanding charging networks along major highways. “The economic challenge is that highway charging demand is highly seasonal. Utilisation spikes sharply during weekends and festive holidays but falls significantly on weekdays,” he told theSun . He said the instability of demand, coupled with the high cost of upgrading grid connections, made highway charging infrastructure a financially risky investment