56 men, 14 women lost in Sarawak’s jungles this year
KUCHING: Seventy! That’s the number of people who went missing in the jungles of Sarawak throughout this year.
One person missing is one too many for the family concerned because he or she is a loved one. For the state as a whole, it is one too many because its population is relatively small compared to those of Malaya and its giant neighbour, Kalimantan. The life of every Sarawakian is therefore priceless or of extremely high value.
It’s the end of the year and as usual, the state Fire and Rescue Department has done its various statistics.
Today, the director of the state Fire and Rescue Department, Khirudin Drahman, said up to last Dec 21, its operations centre received 50 calls about persons missing in the jungle.
“A total of 70 persons got lost — 56 men and 14 women,” he said.
Breaking down the figures further, he said 62 survived their ordeal and were found safe, two died, while six are still missing.
Khirudin said going by state divisions, Bintulu recorded eight cases, followed by Miri with seven cases.
“Serian and Betong recorded five cases each, followed by Kuching, Samarahan, and Sri Aman with four cases each,” he said.
Having dealt with the statistics, he advised those who want to go into a jungle to try as much as possible not to go alone, but to go with a friend or with a guide if the jungle is unfamiliar.
The biggest reason why people get lost in the jungle is negligence.
Those who want to go into a jungle to trek or hike must try as much as possible not to go alone, but with friends or guides if the jungle is unfamiliar. 
Sarawak’s jungles and forests are thick and dark and the reason why people got lost is because they underestimate the difficulties they might face while doing their trekking activities.
“That’s why even villagers who are surrounded by a jungle, and who actually depend on the jungle for their livelihood, also can get lost.
“In fact, in many cases, local people got lost because they were overconfident, or perhaps they underestimated the difficulties they might face while being in the jungle,” he said.
