Bateq man missing in tiger attack, tribe gripped in fear

 

An Orang Asli from the Bateq tribe has gone missing in a tiger attack while fishing in the upper reaches of Sungai Aring in Kampung Aring 5, Gua Musang, Kelantan on Tuesday (May 9).

At the time of the attack, the victim Halim Asin, 27, was fishing with his eight-year-old nephew Alang Kuang, at about 11.30am.

Alang’s father, Kuang Camang, 31, said his son claimed the tiger pounced on them while they were fishing.

“My son was shocked and immediately jumped into the river and swam away to save himself, before telling us about the incident about 500m from the location.

“We managed to inspect the scene but my brother-in-law was nowhere in sight,” he said yesterday.

Prior to the attack, Kuang was travelling with seven people, including the victim, on their way from Kampung Cangkung, Jerantut, Pahang to return to Kampung Aring 5 on foot and stopped to rest at Sungai Aring.

“Before Ramadan, we had gone to Kampung Cangkung and stayed there for a month. Then we departed on foot to return to Kampung Aring 5 on Saturday.

“At 11am yesterday, I, my wife, four children, Halim, and his father arrived at Sungai Aring and set up camp on the edge of the river to spend the night because we wanted to catch fish,” he said.

Kuang said after the tiger attack, despite being gripped in fear, they left for Kampung Aring 5 at 1.30pm and reported the incident to the headmen and residents as soon as they arrived at the village at 5.30pm.

Meanwhile, Gua Musang district police chief Supt Sik Choon Foo confirmed receiving a report related to the disappearance of the Bateq man at 10pm last night.

He said a search and rescue operation by security personnel has been mobilised starting today.

- Bernama