Family holds on to hope as search continues for missing teen hiker

 

The SAR operation is being assisted by three K9 units, with two from the Fire and Rescue Department and one from police. - Bernama pic

HULU SELANGOR: The father of a teenage girl believed to have gone missing while hiking at Bukit Changkat Asa in Tanjong Malim last Saturday is hoping that the ongoing search and rescue (SAR) operation will uncover new leads in the effort to locate his daughter.

Azizul Abdul Aziz, 48, said he and his family have come to terms with all possibilities as the disappearance of his daughter, Nur Izzati Humaira, 18, entered its third day today.

"Whether she is still alive or not, we are prepared for any possibility and only hope she can be found soon so she can be laid to rest properly," he said when met at the Fire Control Post today.

Azizul, who lives in Felda Trolak Utara, said the second of four siblings had not shown any unusual behaviour before her disappearance and had recently been very cheerful after obtaining her driving licence.

He said Nur Izzati Humaira had recently started working at a restaurant near Maktab Rendah Sains Mara Sungkai and was also active in netball.

"Even after finishing school, she would still return to her former secondary school voluntarily to help the sports teacher train the school team," he said.

According to Azizul, his daughter had only become interested in hiking activities over the past few years.

"I once climbed Mount Belumut, in Klang, with her before, but I was unable to join the trip last Saturday," he said.

On the day of the incident, Nur Izzati Humaira had been hiking with her mother, sister, aunt and two cousins.

She is believed to have gone missing at about 10.50am while descending the hill after deciding to walk ahead alone because she was feeling hot and tired.

The teenager was last seen wearing a brown hijab, a dark green long-sleeved shirt, black trousers and blue shoes. - NST