Missing man ‘restrained by forest spirits’

Posted on June 30, 2012, Saturday

BELURU: The search for the missing 71-year-old grandfather from Rumah Morgan in Sungai Nipa in Bakong has entered its first week with police continuing the search along the Bakong River and a ‘shaman’ (witch doctor) saying he is still ‘confined’ in the forest by spirits.

Marudi state assemblyman and Assistant Minister of Water Supplies, Datuk Sylvester Entri Ak Muran visited the family and the longhouse folk involved in the search and rescue, saying he hoped to mobilise a big team to help in the operation.

The site where the old man went missing was only five minutes away from the longhouse, about 75km from Miri, and his disappearance has baffled his family, longhouse folks and SAR teams comprising personnel from the Police, GOF and Bomba.

Encouraging them not to be disheartened, Entri said he first learned of the incident in the newspaper during his official visit to Bakun and Murum and his private secretary had been in touched with the relevant authorities and the longhouse.

Entri also handed over a personal donation to the family to cover part of the expenses incurred in the seven-day operation in the search for Sangong Anak Nading who went missing last Saturday (June 23).

The villagers said they had combed every inch from the spot where he was last seen by his daughter Remulin, who had sent him there at about 6.30am to check on their farm.

He was told to wait there, but he insisted he knew the way to their farm from the plantation road.

Three other local villagers also met him on the road and were surprised to see the feeble grandfather walking like a young man.

“He could hardly walk and has to stop to massage his legs after a few steps, and it surprised them to see him walking in a hurry,” said Remulin.

Meanwhile, a ‘shaman’ said the rituals had been done but the children of the family from the other world are still reluctant to let him go despite the consent of their parents.

The family and longhouse folks are hoping that he would be released as prayed.

Meanwhile, the SAR operation this Sunday is expected to involve volunteers from other longhouses in searching for the grandfather who had only a parang with him when he went missing a week ago.

Entri said the Marudi Police and Marudi District Office would be involved in this major operation for the sake of the family.

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