Missing hiking family in Kelantan mountains never stayed out more than a day, says grandpa — now it’s been four, maybe without food

Missing hiking family in Kelantan mountains never stayed out more than a day, says grandpa — now it’s been four, maybe without food



For illustration only. A multi-agency rescue team is searching Gunung Trans Gerah in Kelantan for a family of four and their two mountain guides who are four days overdue to exit the trail. — Picture from Facebook/Bernama


Summary

• Wan Zairudin Wan Ismail is deeply concerned about his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren who have been missing since failing to return from a hike in the Kelantan forest as planned.
• The family's last communication indicated they were safe but have since ceased all contact, prompting worries about potential injuries and food shortages.
• A search and rescue operation, including helicopter assistance, has been launched following a police report filed by Wan Zairudin.
• The family was attempting a challenging route unfamiliar to them, contributing to fears of possible difficulties encountered during their expedition.

By Malay Mail
First Published: Monday, 07 Sep 2026 3:54 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — The silence from his son’s family has left Wan Zairudin Wan Ismail fearing that something may have gone wrong during their hike through the Kelantan forest.

His son Wan Ahmad Aslam, 39, daughter-in-law Siti Zulaiha Norizan, 39, grandchildren Diya Raisha, 13, and Ahmad Raef, 9, and their two mountain guides have been missing since failing to emerge from the forest as scheduled last Thursday.


“I am worried that someone may have been injured,” Wan Zairudin, 66, who lives in Shah Alam, Selangor, was quoted by The New Straits Times as saying today.


The family was last heard from on September 1, when Siti Zulaiha messaged her mother-in-law to say they were safe and expected to reach Pos Kemar in Perak two days later.


Wan Zairudin is also concerned that the group may be running out of food, as their supplies were expected to last only six or seven days.

The six were reported missing after they failed to return as scheduled and repeated attempts to contact them were unsuccessful.

Wan Zairudin lodged a police report at the Bukit Jelutong police station in Shah Alam two days ago.


The Fire and Rescue Department launched a search and rescue operation today, including a helicopter-assisted search to locate the group and trace the route they were believed to have taken.

“My son is a project manager in Yong Peng, Johor, while my daughter-in-law works in Simpang Renggam. They often go hiking with their two children, and the longest they had ever stayed in the forest beyond their scheduled exit was just one day,” he said.

“This time, however, it is worrying as they have now gone four days without sufficient food.”

Wan Zairudin said he had sent the family to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan in Cheras on Aug 29 to catch a bus to Gua Musang, while their car was left at his home in Shah Alam.

The family was due to return by bus from either Gerik or Kuala Kangsar last Thursday before travelling back to Yong Peng, with the children expected to return to school after the holidays ended yesterday.

Wan Zairudin said his son had chosen the Trans GBB route, which he had never attempted before, as part of his plan to complete several mountain expeditions in Malaysia before taking his family to climb Mount Kinabalu next year.

“I am worried that someone may have been injured, perhaps suffering a sprained ankle and being unable to move. Without outside help, it would be difficult for them to get out of the forest,” he said.

Wan Zairudin said the family knew Trans GBB was among the more challenging hiking routes.

He and his wife planned to travel to Gerik today, where search and rescueoperations room had been set up, to seek the latest updates on their family.