THE search for nine-year-old Kamiliah Anab of the Jahai tribe in Sealor Village in Gerik, Perak, has come to an end.

It has now been two months since Kamiliah, fondly known as Ayeng, went missing at the Temenggor Forest Reserve while gathering rattan.

Her family told The Malaysian Insight they have had to give up the search as they were running out of food from not working.

“We stopped looking last month,” Langan Ateng, Ayeng’s uncle, said.

“It has been months. Since we were looking for her for so many weeks, we neglected to work and were running low on food.

“So we decided to stop. We have to make a living, we have families to support too.”

Ayeng’s parents are still distraught, but they have somewhat moved on with life.

“Her father has gone back to work. He is sad, and not very motivated.”

Langan’s predicament was similarly voiced by the village head previously.

Asok, 47, had earlier said the villagers were putting their livelihoods on hold in search of Ayeng.

Given that the tribe did not have any income during the Covid-19 lockdowns, her disappearance put them all in a bind, he said.

Ayeng has been missing since January 23. She was last seen in a yellow top and orange pants with a backpack.

Search and rescue teams from the police, Fire and Rescue Department, Orang Asli police tracker unit Senoi Praaq, World Wildlife Foundation and Department of Orang Asli Affairs looked for her for six days from January 14 to 19, but did not find any signs of her.

The jungle where she went missing is dense with thick foliage and is also home to wild animals such as tigers, elephants and sun bears.

After the rescue teams were called off, the villagers took over the search for the girl.

Gerik police said that there were no new updates on the search for the missing girl as well.

Langan said while the villagers may have stopped looking, Ayeng’s disappearance still haunts them.

“I don’t know whether she is still alive or she is dead. There is no body or indication she is dead, but there is also no indication that she is alive.

“There is no proof either way,” he said.

Their last hope now lies in the hands of a Buddhist monk who has camped in the jungle.

“She’s up there meditating daily. She is our last hope of locating Ayeng.”

The Orang Asli are known to be superstitious.

The villagers had previously also employed the help of a bomoh to locate the girl. – March 12, 2022.