BATU PAHAT, June 7 — A fire that destroyed about 80 per cent of MCA’s office in Yong Peng yesterday has disrupted the party’s preparations for the upcoming Johor state election, its Youth chief Ling Tian Soon said.

Ling said MCA is considering relocating its operations to a temporary premises after investigations by the Fire and Rescue Department are completed.

“This incident will affect MCA because the building has long served as the party’s operations centre. We may need to find a temporary location to continue our preparations for the state election,” he told Bernama today.

The Yong Peng assemblyman said the blaze destroyed the building’s public address system, newly installed air-conditioning units, furniture, as well as documents and equipment used for community programmes.

He said the loss was also deeply felt by the local Chinese community, many of whom regarded the 70-year-old building as a landmark and a hub for community activities.

“Everyone feels saddened by the loss of an iconic building in Yong Peng. I ask the public to remain patient.

“MCA will make plans moving forward to ensure it continues serving as a centre for community and family activities in the area,” he said.

According to Ling, the building, measuring about 100 feet long, 70 feet wide and 20 feet high, had hosted a wide range of activities, including meetings, dance classes, exercise sessions, lion dance training and karaoke programmes held four times a week.

“Although the fire mainly spread through the upper section of the building, the entire interior is no longer usable, and all activities have been temporarily suspended,” he said.

The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call on the incident at 8.28pm yesterday.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control and fully extinguished it by 9.56pm. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — A river fisherman is feared to have drowned after he was believed to have been swept away while attempting to swim across Sungai Pahang near Kampung Peragap, Temerloh, today.

The victim, Samsul Azmi Ishury, 41, was reported missing at about 7.30am, prompting a search and rescue (SAR) operation by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), according to an Utusan Malaysia report today.

Temerloh Fire and Rescue Station operations commander PBK II Muhammad Lutfi Burn Abdullah said his team received an emergency call at 7.30am before deploying firefighters to the scene.

He said initial information from witnesses indicated that the victim had tried to swim across the river before being carried away by strong currents and feared drowned.

Muhammad Lutfi said search efforts are currently focused along the river with assistance from police.

He added that the Water Rescue Team (PPDA) from the Bukit Angin Fire and Rescue Station had also been alerted to assist in the operation.

Rescue operations are ongoing.

TAPAH, June 3 — The search and rescue (SAR) operation for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin, 49, at Gunung Batu Putih here will continue on a smaller scale from tomorrow, led by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM).

Tapah district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the decision was reached at a SAR coordination meeting chaired by Batang Padang district officer Ahmad Redhauddin this afternoon.

“However, police will continue to monitor the situation and carry out further investigations into the victim’s disappearance at Gunung Batu Putih.

“We will take statements from the 14 individuals who participated in the hiking trip with the victim and anyone with information is urged to come forward and assist police in the search efforts,” he said at a press conference at the Tapah district police headquarters here today.

Tapah district police chief Supt Abdul Malik Hasim said the decision to scale down the operation was made at a SAR coordination meeting this afternoon. — Bernama pic

He said the SAR operation had involved various agencies, including the police, JBPM, the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), the Forestry Department, personnel from the 3rd Battalion of the General Operations Force (GOF), Forestry Mountain Guides (MGP), as well as public volunteers.

Abdul Malik said the previous SAR operation, which lasted 11 days, involved a total of 116 personnel.

“So when we decided to scale down the operation, it will be led by the JBPM under its SAR SOP (standard operating procedure), with the assistance of local residents and NGOs (non-governmental organisations),” he said.

Abdul Malik added that the decision was made after 95 per cent of the Gunung Batu Putih hiking area had been searched during the SAR operation, using various methods deployed by the JBPM in efforts to locate the victim.

“(In addition), five personnel from JBPM and four from the 3rd Battalion of the GOF were injured, which is also one of the factors being taken into account,” he said.

Therefore, he said careful planning was required to avoid wastage of energy and to ensure the safety of rescuers involved in the SAR mission.

Abdul Malik said police probe so far had found no criminal elements in Jaslinda’s disappearance, however 13 individuals who joined the hiking trip were called to have their statements recorded to assist further investigations.

“I understand there has been a lot of talk on social media about Ah Long (loan sharks), but so far our investigation has found no criminal elements in Jaslinda’s disappearance. We are focusing on the search at Gunung Batu Putih,” he said.

He said, with that, the Forward Command Posts for the Gunung Batu Putih SAR operation at Surau At-Taqwa and the Sultan Idris II Power Station in Kuala Woh would be closed today.

Jaslinda was reported to have begun the Trans Spencer Chapman trek at 2am on May 23 with 13 other participants and two MGPs, via the Pos Gedung-Gunung Bah Gading-Gunung Batu Putih-Kuala Woh route.

She and another hiker, Mohd Hanafi Neikmad, 41, experienced health problems and stopped along the way. However, Jaslinda was reported to have continued towards the summit and was last seen by an MGP at 7.30am on May 24. — Bernama