Family appeals for leads in case of missing Bintulu man

MIRI (March 25): A senior citizen is appealing to the public for help in finding his son, who has been missing for 24 days after being last seen on closed-circuit television (CCTV) at a hotel in Bintulu early this month.

Ding Imang Wan@ Albert Ding, 72, said his son Christopher Tingang Ding, 42, a daily crew member for an offshore company, was reported missing on March 1.

“He had been staying at a hotel in Bintulu and would leave early for work, returning around 9pm or 10pm.

“On the night of Feb 28, he contacted his wife to say he would return to Miri the next day and asked her to pick him up at the bus terminal at 5pm. That was the last conversation he had with her,” Albert told The Borneo Post.

When Christopher failed to arrive and could not be reached by phone, his wife lodged a police report at the Miri Central police station around 3am on March 1.

A subsequent report was filed in Bintulu, and family members searched places he was known to frequent.

A seven-day search-and-rescue operation was conducted but was called off due to a lack of leads.

“Now, 24 days have passed and we are still hoping for his safe return. We are seeking the public’s help to spread the word,” Albert said.

Christopher and his wife have a five-year-old daughter.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station.

Telang Usan assemblyman Datuk Dennis Ngau, who was present during the interview, also appealed to the public to assist in bringing Christopher home.