KUALA LUMPUR: When firefighter Hassanuddin Tabaddang headed into the forests around Gunung Batu Putih, he knew the search would be difficult.
What he did not know was that he would soon find himself soaked by relentless rain, shivering through freezing nights, and relying on survival skills to stay warm.
The search for missing hiker Jaslinda Saludin captured national attention after the 49-year-old disappeared while hiking in southern Perak. For more than two weeks, rescuers combed dense jungle terrain in the hope of finding her.
Among them were members of the fire and rescue department’s (JBPM) Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia, or STORM – an elite unit trained to operate in some of the country’s toughest environments.
Hassanuddin, 33, was among the first deployed after the missing-person report was lodged on May 24.
The team initially rescued another hiker before beginning the search for Jaslinda, tracking her movements from Gunung Batu Putih towards Kem Sukaneka and Gunung Rayu. They even managed to locate her footprints.
But the mountain had other plans. Heavy rain, strong winds and plunging temperatures forced the team to spend the night at Puncak Berapit 2.
“Two of my colleagues suffered leg injuries at the time,” Hassanuddin recalled. “With everything soaked through, I had to rely on survival skills to gather firewood and keep a fire burning. It was our only source of warmth.”
Hassanuddin described the mission as one of the toughest he has experienced despite participating in more than 10 search-and-rescue operations during his career.
The Sabah native joined STORM in 2017, drawn by the challenge and the opportunity to help people in extreme situations.
The selection process itself is demanding. Candidates must pass rigorous fitness tests, including completing a 7km run in under 40 minutes, before undergoing specialised rescue and survival training.
For fellow firefighter Azani Ibrahim, the operation required a different sacrifice. The 39-year-old cancelled his child’s aqiqah ceremony in Kelantan to join the search effort.
A mountain guide with the department, Azani was among the first personnel to enter the trail in search of Jaslinda. For hours, he followed footprints through rugged terrain from Gunung Batu Putih towards Gunung Rayu, pressing on despite harsh conditions.
“It was bitterly cold, with strong winds and continuous rain,” he recalled. “We had no proper sleeping equipment. We rested briefly, then continued searching.”
The operation eventually took the team across multiple peaks and down towards Pos Musoh, often with limited food supplies.
With a decade of experience as a firefighter, Azani described the mountains of southern Perak as among the most challenging environments he has encountered.
For him, the profession has always been about helping others. His interest in firefighting began when he frequently witnessed fatal road accidents along the Gua Musang-Kuala Krai route while growing up.
He believes many people still associate firefighters solely with putting out fires. “Our responsibilities cover everything: fires, road accidents, disasters, rescue operations and much more,” he said.
The search for Jaslinda also affected those coordinating operations from outside the forest.
Sabarodzi Nor Ahmad, assistant director of operations for the Perak JBPM, cancelled his Aidiladha plans to remain on standby as rescue teams continued their search.
Communication difficulties on the first day of Aidiladha meant little information was coming out of the forest.
“I wanted to ensure they could return safely while arranging for another team to continue the search effort,” he said.
Although the search eventually ended without firefighters being the team that located Jaslinda, the operation highlighted the realities behind rescue missions that often unfold far from public view.
For days, these brave first-responders endured exhaustion, uncertainty and dangerous conditions – all in the hope of bringing a fellow Malaysian home.
