GUA MUSANG – An Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe has gone missing in a tiger attack while fishing in the upper reaches of Sg Aring in Kg Aring 5 here on Tuesday.
At the time of the attack, the victim, Halim Asin, 27, was fishing with his 8-year-old nephew Alang Kuang, at about 11.30am.
Alang’s father, Kuang Camang, 31, said his son claimed that the tiger had pounced on them while they were fishing.
“My son who was shocked, immediately jumped into the river and swam away to save himself before telling us about the incident about 500m from the location.
“We managed to inspect the scene but my brother-in-law was nowhere in sight,” he said yesterday.
Prior to the attack, Kuang was travelling with seven people, including the victim, on their way from Kg Cangkung, Jerantut, Pahang to return to Kg Aring 5 on foot and stopped to rest at Sg Aring.
“Before Ramadan, we had gone to Kg Cangkung and stayed there for a month. Then we departed on foot to return to Kg Aring 5 on Saturday.
“At 11am yesterday, my wife, four children, Halim, his father and I, arrived at Sg Aring and set up camp on the edge of the river to spend the night because we wanted to catch fish,” he said.
Narrating further, Kuang said that after the tiger attack, despite being gripped in fear of the man-eater, they left for Kg Aring 5 at 1.30pm and reported the incident to the headmen and residents as soon as they arrived at the village at 5.30pm.
Meanwhile, Gua Musang district police chief Sik Choon Foo confirmed receiving a report related to the disappearance of the Bateq tribe man at 10pm last night.
He said a search-and-rescue operation by security personnel has been mobilised yesterday. – Bernama, May 11, 2023
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