RECENTLY, search and rescue personnel, including 30 from JBPM spent four whole days combing a river in Muar looking for a ‘missing’ influencer.
SAR personnel risked their lives, while taxpayer's money, resources and time was wasted looking for someone who was not even missing in the first place.
Not to mention the precious time the SAR members lost, having to be away from their families.
It was later revealed that the entire episode involving the ‘missing’ Tengku Nizaruddin Tengku Zainudin, 38, was just a hoax - planned for personal gain.
Police found that he had ditched his wife's car in Sungai Tui, Lenga before fleeing to a neighbouring country to allegedly marry another woman.
His brother, who was involved in the whole scam, lodged a report on July 15 to mislead the authorities.
The Johor JBPM has certainly done the right thing by lodging a police report against the influencer and his younger brother.
Apart from the earlier mentioned risks and wastages, the department also pointed out that there was a disruption to other emergency tasks as SAR personnel focused on looking for the 'missing' influencer.
Someone else could have lost their live elsewhere while efforts were focused at Sungai Tui, looking for a man who was busy allegedly getting hitched in Thailand.
Apart from the SAR, several friends were also involved in the search, some travelling from outstation.
So, who is going to compensate them for their time, money and effort?
The authorities must view this incident seriously as it not only wasted plenty of money, time and resources, it put the lives of others at risk.
Words cannot describe the level of irresponsibility and ignorance of the ‘missing’ act - stern action must be taken to serve as a lesson to the two brothers and others. - July 22, 2025
