KUALA LUMPUR: A soldier from the 7th Battalion Border Regiment stationed at Kem Kidurong, Bintulu, has been reported missing while on duty during an operation in Limbang, Sarawak.
The Malaysian Army, in a statement, said Private Muhammad Syafiq Hilmi Abd Halim was reported missing while on duty during Op Ukur in Limbang, conducted in collaboration with the Sarawak Department of Survey and Mapping (Jupem).
"The soldier's absence was detected at noon on June 18, when the group leader found that he was not at the rear position of the group.
"The incident occurred about 2km along the Malaysia-Brunei border ridge from the E500 border marker towards E600," read the statement.
The army said immediate efforts to search and locate the soldier were carried out by the team, consisting of two army personnel and five Jupem personnel but to no avail.
It added that the search efforts have been intensified by the army starting from Wednesday (June 19) in the area, with the cooperation of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) and other public agencies coordinated by the National Security Council (MKN), including the police and the Fire and Rescue Department.
"The Royal Brunei Armed Forces have also mobilised their assets to assist in the joint search efforts with the army.
"It is hoped that the missing soldier can be found safely and that the public will refrain from making any speculations that could disrupt this search mission and respect the feelings of the family members involved," it added.
Op Ukur is an operation conducted under the command of the 31st Border Brigade Headquarters, involving the deployment of army personnel as security escorts for the Jupem team carrying out the marking and measurement of the Malaysia-Brunei border in the survey area from Ulu Tutong (E500) to Bebuloh (E600), Limbang, from June 11 June to Sept 2.