Double-terror hits women hikers at Bukit Gasing

Within an hour, two separate attacks on female hikers indicate that the popular forest reserve may, once again, become a hotspot for crime.

PETALING JAYA: In less than one hour, two women in two separate incidences were targeted by criminals during their morning hike at popular Bukit Gasing.

On January 7, around 9.30am, blogger Rebecca Saw was hiking alone near the Bukit Gasing suspension bridge when she heard a motorbike approach from behind her.

One of the two men on the motorbike reached out to grab her iPhone and when she resisted, they became bolder and more aggressive.

Relating the incident on her Facebook page, she wrote, “I screamed out and he tugged at my hand (phone) and top more aggressively. My top ripped, I stumbled backwards and rolled down the hill. Luckily it was a shallow slope, not quite a hill.

“I hit my head, my neck got twisted along the way and my back was scratched. Fortunately, that was the extent of my injuries. It could have been worse.”

In a separate incident, a Mandarin daily reported the abduction and car theft of a 51-year-old real estate agent.

The victim, wishing to remain anonymous, said, “It was around 8.50am when I walked back to my Mazda CX-5 when the man suddenly sprang out and ambushed me with what looked like a gun.

“He forced me into my car and drove off, demanding RM150,000 in order to release me.”

Insisting she didn’t have that much money, the robber took her new car instead and left her by the side of the New Pantai Expressway.

The attacks have sparked calls for tighter security to protect joggers and hikers at the popular forest reserve.

On Friday, Bukit Gasing Assemblyman, Rajiv Rishyakaran called on the police to step up vigilance and patrols to ensure their safety, as reported by The Star Online.

“The peak hours for hiking are not a lot. It’s just morning and evenings. I hope the police can resume active patrolling in the forest and car park areas.”

Recalling another more fatal case of crime at Bukit Gasing, he said, “Two-and-a-half years ago when someone was killed, there were some police patrols, but with time that faded away.”