PANTAI, a small quiet town in the suburbs of Seremban in Negri Sembilan, is known for its eco resorts.

But in the past week, the town has been making headlines following the disappearance of British teenager Nora Quoirin, who went missing on August 4.

The 15-year-old disappeared from The Dusun, one of nine high-end resorts nestled in the jungles of Gunung Berembun.

Located at the foot of the hill is an Orang Asli settlement of the Temuan tribe, known as Kg Kolam Air.

There are about 100 villagers in this community on the outskirts of the small town, with a population of about 4,000.

Some 60km from Kuala Lumpur, these luxury holiday hubs have generated economic activity for the tribesmen, who have taken up jobs as cleaners and helpers here.

Umie, a resort worker, told The Malaysian Insight that Orang Asli villagers who dropped out of school after their primary education, including herself, have secured good jobs at these resorts. 

“These resorts are a source of income for many of the Orang Asli who dropped out of school,” Umie said.

“Some are underage, so they cannot get jobs at factories in the town (Pantai).”

The widow, who is raising three children after her husband’s death, said working at the resort allows her to put food on the table and sustain a livelihood.

“It is convenient to work here. We save on petrol and the working hours are not restrictive,” she added. 

Roziah Ngongok, who works at a resort next to The Dusun, said the main activity in the area is jungle trekking.

“Tourists come here for a staycation. They just stay indoors and chill by the pool. Some go out trekking,” she said. 

The area is frequented by foreigners and locals, especially student groups looking for a short getaway. 

She said the tribesmen also served as guides for the trekkers.

Another resort worker, who spoke to The Malaysian Insight on condition of anonymity, was concerned that Quoirin’s disappearance would drive tourists away.

“We heard there has been cancellations at some of the other resorts, including The Dusun.

“It is low-peak season now. The incident might taint the reputation of this place.”

The resorts on the hill are only open to guests and outsiders are restricted from entering the properties.

The spot is also hit with Klang Valley folk, who drive down on weekends to take a dip in the nearby Sg Penal.

Jungle trekking trips are offered by the resorts and private parties.

Besides ecotourism, rubber tapping and durian farming are also sources of income for locals.

Kg Kolam Air Tok Batin (tribe chief) Ali Ngongok said there are about 80ha of rubber plantations in the area, where many of the tribesmen work.

“They don’t go out to the town to work. Most of them work at the resorts or within the village,” he said.

“We’ve lived here for generations,” he said, adding that rubber tapping has been his family’s occupation for decades.

The Dusun, which stands 800m above sea level on the hillside, was the first resort to open in the former rubber and durian plantation. Previously a residence, The Dusun was converted into a resort in 2009.

The resorts in the area have been operating for between four and 10 years.

The Malaysian Insight also sighted some new developments under construction in the area.

Puzzling disappearance

Quoirin’s disappearance has left many of the villagers puzzled, with many saying this was the first time a person has gone missing in the area for almost a week without a trace.

More than 200 elite commandos, police and Fire and Rescue Department personnel, Orang Asli trekkers and local villagers are still combing the forest in search of the teenager.

Police have also used drones equipped with thermal sensor imaging devices and recordings of the teenager’s mother’s voice to lure her out of the Jeram Toi rainforest.

“The ones that go missing are usually trekkers. Sometimes, they get separated from their groups,” said Roziah.

In the last missing person’s incident in May, a foreign trekker went missing in the jungles. He was found two days later. 

Ali, a resident of the village for 56 years, said while there had been cases of people getting lost, none of the past cases were as mysterious as Quoirin’s.

“There were about three or four incidences in the last few years but they were all found.

“Sometimes, they come in two buses. That’s how the guides lose count and people go missing,” he said, adding that he was disappointed that authorities did not seek the assistance of locals in the search for Quoirin. 

The Malaysian Insight learnt that police operating in the area only visited Ali for the first time on Thursday, five days after search-and-rescue mission started.

On whether he was willing to join the search now, Ali said he was open to extending a helping hand.

“In the previous cases of trekkers getting lost, the authorities dealt with it themselves,” he said.

“I went up to an orchard up the hill with my father-in-law yesterday. I was also on the lookout along the way to see if she was around,” he said. 

“But we found nothing.”

Quoirin arrived in Malaysia on August 3 with her family for a two-week holiday.

She was sharing a room with her sister, 12, and brother, 8, the night she went missing.

Her father, Sebastian, discovered she was missing from her bedroom about 7am on August 4 before lodging a police report at 11am.

Quoirin, who has learning disabilities, was said to have disappeared clad only in her underwear between Saturday night and early Sunday.

Police have lifted several fingerprints from a window at the villa but have not disclosed their findings. – August 10, 2019.