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Rescued: 2 S'porean hikers missing for 3 days found at edge of Johor dam

SINGAPORE — Two Singaporean hikers have been rescued unhurt from the edge of a dam in Johor, nearly three days after they first went missing in the Gunung Pulai forest reserve.

Ms Lum Jie and Mr Tan Chang Xiang, Dominick were rescued by the Malaysian authorities on Thursday (Feb 8), three days after they first went missing in Johor's Gunung Pulai forest reserve. Photo: Polis Johor via Facebook

Ms Lum Jie and Mr Tan Chang Xiang, Dominick were rescued by the Malaysian authorities on Thursday (Feb 8), three days after they first went missing in Johor's Gunung Pulai forest reserve. Photo: Polis Johor via Facebook

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SINGAPORE — Two Singaporean hikers have been rescued unhurt from the edge of a dam in Johor, nearly three days after they first went missing in the Gunung Pulai forest reserve.

Ms Lum Jie and Mr Tan Chang Xiang, Dominick, both 27, were spotted from a helicopter on Thursday (Feb 8) morning. A team of rescuers from the Malaysian police and fire department subsequently used a boat to transport them to safety.

A Facebook post by the Johor police said the two hikers were found "without any injuries at Teluk Teratai, the edge of the Pontian dam". Photos posted by the Johor police showed Ms Lum eating a snack, while she and Mr Tan posed for photos with their rescuers.

It is unclear how they got lost in the first place, or how they made their way to the dam. They were first reporting missing on Monday evening, hours after they entered a forested area.

The local police said they received two distress calls from Mr Tan on Monday, one at 5pm and the second one at 10pm. But efforts to track them down were unsuccessful.

Johor police chief Khalil Kader Mohd had described Mr Tan as an "experienced hiker" who had climbed Gunung Pulai previously. “However, we do not discount the possibility that both did not use the usual trails and this may have caused them to get lost,” he added.

In a Facebook post on Thursday evening, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said he was relieved that the two Singaporeans were found.

He also extended his thanks to Polis Johor Chief Datuk Mohd Khalil, Kulai Fire Department Chief Mohd Khairi Zainudin, their teams, as well as the Singapore team on the ground, "for their efforts in this operation".

"A million thanks (to you)," PM Lee wrote in Malay. "We are very appreciative of all your help!"

Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan similarly expressed his gratitude to the Malaysian authorities and volunteers for their rescue efforts in his own Facebook post earlier in the afternoon.

"Delighted to hear that the two Singaporeans, Mr Dominick Tan and Ms Clarice Lum Jie, who were earlier reported missing in Johor’s Gunung Pulai forest reserve, have been found and are in stable condition. MFA officials from our Consulate-General in Johor Bahru have been on the ground assisting their families," he wrote.

"We are very grateful to the Malaysian agencies, especially Johor Chief of Police Datuk Mohd Khalil, the Johor Police and Kulai Fire Department, who have worked tirelessly for almost 4 days on this operation.

"My utmost gratitude also to the scores of volunteers from both Malaysia and Singapore who helped in the search."

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