Diary of Search for Mr and Mrs Maag

6th June, Friday

Arrived in camp with Mrs Tan and the 2 children together with the 2 Australians. Took a stroll around the lakes. After dinner discussed the trek they would like to do the next day with Greg and Tracey and Dominic. Uncle Tan arrived in Cap 11:15 pm after the Medical/Dental camp.

7th June, Saturday
Up early with the Australians. 5:55 am. Uncle Tan offered breakfast. Bob and Mary Lou said they would take a short stroll and be back in 20 minutes for breakfast. Uncle Tan helped fill their water bottles.

10:00 am
The Australians Greg and Tracey looked for them to go on the trek as planned the night before. Across the lake to Ride 7. As they were not in Camp, the Australians set off to Ride 7 on their own. Uncle Tan questioned Mahideen and MohShin if they had seen Bob and his wife at the Jetty. Mahideen and his brother MohShin were sleeping at the head of the Jetty. MohShin walked back to camp at 7:30 am while Mahideen was at the Jetty to do his laundry.

11:30
Arrival of the party from the Medical/Dental Camp.

12:30
Lunch - Dominic observed that Bob and Wife were still not back from the Jetty. MohShin was sent to the Jetty to look for them. William was guarding the boats at Jetty.

2:00
Medical Camp Group left Camp - only Dr Veronika, Jerry, Alisan, and Zoe stayed. Uncle Tan went with the group to Klife House - at Sentosa Jaya - Klife had a surgery to repair the cleft lips. The doctors was to remove the stitches.

5:30 pm
Uncle Tan returned to the Camp and found that the couple were still not in Camp. A search was organized. The search was concentrated along the area where the couple had planned to trek - information was provided by Dominic. Search party leader - Dominic to search the round lake area, Search party leader - Mahideen to search the river ride to the Honey Bee Tree. Search party leader Rosli to search the area up river of the camp by boat.

7:15
All search parties returned to camp. During dinner a plan was made for another search -
Dominic to take a party to search the area near the round lake.
Mahideen to take a party to search along the lake side to Ride No. 3.
Rosli to take the Coca Cola trail. Parties of searchers were to return to Camp by 10:30 pm. It was decided that the search will be continued the next day. Uncle Tan tried to contact the Balai Polis at Kotu Kinabatangen. Not able to get a connection.

8th June, Sunday.
Uncle Tan still try to get through to Balai Polis Kotu Kinabatangen by the H/P. Still no connection.

7:30 After Breakfast.
Team Leader Dominic search the round lake area.
Rosli went out alone on the track from near the Jetty to Bt. Kopi.
Mahideen and Party searched the Coca Cola trail again.
Uncle Tan and Dr Veronika stayed in Camp to get the Sick Bay ready in case it is needed.
The Medical Students Zoe and Alison - crossed over to the Honey Bee Tree to search in the area.
Uncle Tan still trying to contact the Balai Polis at Kotu Kinabatangen.

11:30
Uncle Tan decided to go to the Balai Polis at Kotu Kinabatangen first by boat then by Public Transport to the Balai.

1:45 pm
Arriving at the Balai - Uncle Tan rang Sandola to send extra battery for the stand phone and to have the Van bring in more people for the boats. A report was lodged with L/Cpl Zaharia who was on duty. Uncle Tan was informed that he should contact the Balai again if the missing people were not found after 48 hours from the time they were last seen. After lodging the report at the Balai, Uncle Tan drove to the K.L. Plantation which lies at the southern side of the camp - noise from the (something) Radio can be heard at the Camp on a Sunday from the direction of K.L. plantation. The track from Danan Pathung leads to K.L. plantation.

Uncle Tan appealed for help from Mr Ali Scory, the manager, to get his men to search the jungle's edge bordering his plantation and the camp area.

While Uncle Tan was away - Dominic organized the search.
Dominic, himself with three tourist volunteers searched the area around the round lake side.
Mahideen with Rosli will search the area from Bt. Kopi back to the Jetty area. They went by boat to the Bt. Kopi jetty and travel on land back to the Camp. William took the boat back to Camp.

4:30
Rained for 15 minutes.

5:30
Uncle Tan returned to camp from K.L. Plantation and lodging Polis report.

7.00
All search parties returned to camp, still no sign.

9th June, Monday
7:35 am

Rang Dr Raghun to get the help of the Army. Dr Raghun will get the Army and gave us the Army Camp No. 660221. Dr Raghun must leave for K.L. on the 0820 plane.

7:45
Rang Balai Polis Kotu Kinabatangen. Spoke to Cpl Din - Pass phone to Senior Inspector. Spoke to Michael - who promised to send some men to the camp. Arranged for a boat to be at the Rahad Dalu side of the bridge.

7:55
Ring home - someone had rang the house last night at 8:30 pm to say that a tall white man had seek shelter at the community Center at Balai.

8:15
Rang the Army Camp. The C.O. is away in K.K. The Duty Officer was taking the Daily Parade. To ring up at 10:00 am - advised by the telephone operator.

8:20
Sent the 2 iban boat to the bridge. One to collect the police party. The smaller boat to collect Sabturi with more fuel for the boats.

8:30
Rang K.L. plantation - Mr Scory in town. No news of any Westerners straying into the plantation. Meanwhile, the tourists in camp had gone on an early morning boat ride to observe Proboscis Monkeys, and also to concentrate the search along the river bank. Party returned to camp 8:30 for breakfast.

11:30
Try to ring the Balai Polis - unable to get through.

1:05 pm
Boat - 40 hp. driven by Saidi, came into camp - to inform that the polis party had still to come in.

1:30 pm
Phoned Balai Polis Kotu Kinabatangen. Polisman on duty - asked me to phone the I/O Inspector Magaken who is I/O of the Area for further details. Inspector Magaken II/P No 018-886-4627.

1:35
Phoned Inspector Magaken at Balai. Was informed that the station had contacted the Police Field Fonce Battalion for help. The Police Field Fonce (PPH) is a Paramilitary unit trained for special jungle operation. The O.C.S. Kotu Kinabatangen will lead the Field Fonce unit to the Camp.

5:50 pm.
Tourists in Camp gave up the search - still waiting for the police party to arrive.

7:35
Rang Inspector Magaken. Was informed that the local Police under Sgt. Major Jeffrey will be at the bridge at 7:00 am. The PHH wil send 2 sections of men but they can only arrive at noon - as many members of the PPH were deployed around the strategic islands and it is the period for them en to be changed. The relieving group had gone out and the one going off duty had not returned to Sandali yet.

8:00 pm
Held meeting with the tourists in Camp and it was arranged that at first light a systematic search will be carried out from the jetty along the trail from Danau Patang to Sg Tahala and Bt Kopi. Another try will be carried out - going to the K.L. plantation by road, and search from there to Danau Patang.

10:35
Mrs Tan arrived at the Camp with the help of Rosli's father to bring the good news - that the couple have been found and brought to the B&B at mile 17 by the good people from K.L. Plantation.

11:15 pm
Left the Camp in long boats to get back to the B&B. The Van was at the bridge to transport us back to the B&B at mile 17.

12:20 am.
Called at the Balai Polis Katu Kinabatangen to report the couple was safe and brought to Mile 17 by Mini bus. Inspector Magaken was still in his office planning the search the following day.

1:45
Arrived at the B&B.

10th June, Tuesday
7:45 At The B&B.

The rest of the Medical Camp personnel were going by express buses to K.K. the Maags were up late.

8:30
They were interviewed by TV3 and the Borneo Post.

9:00
En. Esmadol of Mocat rang - to inquire about the missing couple as the press carried the news. Got Mrs Mary Lou Maag to speak to En. Esmadol.

2:00 pm
DHL Rang - Mary Lou's credit cards which got stolen in Tawan are now at the D.H.L. office for collection. The Maags visited the Sepiloh Orang Utan Center. They will leave by Sabuk Express Bus for K.K. next day.

Read Uncle Tan's letter of explanation

Read Mary Lou's journal of the Two Nights in the Jungle

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