Missing 88-Yr-Old Grandfather Found In Lamunin
By Yulz. Wednesday, 31. October 2007, 04:14:01
Bandar Seri Begawan - A frantic search by family and friends for a missing 88-year-old grandfather, who mysteriously disappeared, ended yesterday but not before his family endured an agonising 24-hour wait.
Hj Nordin Hj Jumat went missing Monday at around 10.30am after he went out to buy vegetables and failed to return home until yesterday afternoon.
His friends and relatives sent out text messages to look out for the missing man by providing his name and car number and the model he was driving.
The text message spread like wildfire in an attempt to trace the grandfather, who resides in Kg Mata Mata, and was last seen driving a silver coloured space wagon. The text message read: "We need all your assistance, my grandfather is missing since 10.30 using (licence plate number) silver colour space wagon named Hj Nordin Hj Jumat. Please help me to SMS to others. Thank you. Contact this number (with a phone number)."
The grandfather was eventually found by truckers carrying logs near the logging area at Benutan Lamunin near the border. The family members were overcome with emotion when news about his whereabouts reached them yesterday morning.
Haji Nordin, who has 30 grandchildren, told the Bulletin about his experience. "I was buying vegetables at a vegetable stall near my home when a couple approached and asked if I could give them a ride home to which I agreed.
When we reached their home it was already night. I was not familiar with the area and wanted to drive home immediately, however, the car I was driving got stuck and broke down due to the muddy road condition.
"So, the couple asked me to sleep in the car and not to worry because the place is ‘guarded’," he said.
But he was found sleeping inside his car by truckers, who normally use that stretch of road to transport logs, yesterday morning.
"They asked why I was there and when they found out I was being searched through radio and text messages they immediately contacted the relevant authorities.
"They were kind enough to take me around for a tour and gave me food and told me not to worry anymore," said Hj Nordin.
When asked why he didn't attempt to contact his family, he said, "I didn't have a mobile phone at the time."
Haji Ahmad Haji Abd Rahman, a family member, said, "We only realised his disappearance after our child told us his grandfather failed to pick him up, which he normally does. The whole family went out to look for him and searched until nightfall, especially his routine places of visit. We reported the matter to the police and asked relevant authorities for their help. We kept searching for him for the last 24 hours.
"We were relieved when we received a call from the Lamunin Police Station that they had found him at around 1 pm yesterday," he said.
He thanked everyone for helping to trace Haji Nordin, the truckers who found him, the Fire and Rescue Department, the police, the army, paramedics, mass media and members of the public. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
Hj Nordin Hj Jumat went missing Monday at around 10.30am after he went out to buy vegetables and failed to return home until yesterday afternoon.
His friends and relatives sent out text messages to look out for the missing man by providing his name and car number and the model he was driving.
The text message spread like wildfire in an attempt to trace the grandfather, who resides in Kg Mata Mata, and was last seen driving a silver coloured space wagon. The text message read: "We need all your assistance, my grandfather is missing since 10.30 using (licence plate number) silver colour space wagon named Hj Nordin Hj Jumat. Please help me to SMS to others. Thank you. Contact this number (with a phone number)."
The grandfather was eventually found by truckers carrying logs near the logging area at Benutan Lamunin near the border. The family members were overcome with emotion when news about his whereabouts reached them yesterday morning.
Haji Nordin, who has 30 grandchildren, told the Bulletin about his experience. "I was buying vegetables at a vegetable stall near my home when a couple approached and asked if I could give them a ride home to which I agreed.
When we reached their home it was already night. I was not familiar with the area and wanted to drive home immediately, however, the car I was driving got stuck and broke down due to the muddy road condition.
"So, the couple asked me to sleep in the car and not to worry because the place is ‘guarded’," he said.
But he was found sleeping inside his car by truckers, who normally use that stretch of road to transport logs, yesterday morning.
"They asked why I was there and when they found out I was being searched through radio and text messages they immediately contacted the relevant authorities.
"They were kind enough to take me around for a tour and gave me food and told me not to worry anymore," said Hj Nordin.
When asked why he didn't attempt to contact his family, he said, "I didn't have a mobile phone at the time."
Haji Ahmad Haji Abd Rahman, a family member, said, "We only realised his disappearance after our child told us his grandfather failed to pick him up, which he normally does. The whole family went out to look for him and searched until nightfall, especially his routine places of visit. We reported the matter to the police and asked relevant authorities for their help. We kept searching for him for the last 24 hours.
"We were relieved when we received a call from the Lamunin Police Station that they had found him at around 1 pm yesterday," he said.
He thanked everyone for helping to trace Haji Nordin, the truckers who found him, the Fire and Rescue Department, the police, the army, paramedics, mass media and members of the public. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
