‘Vehicles back on Bukit Larut by 2026’

Bukit Larut has been closed to vehicles due to landslide risks. — Filepic

VISITORS will have to wait until 2026 to drive up Bukit Larut in Taiping as the hill is still closed to vehicles.

Perak tourism committee chairman Loh Sze Yee said that hiking was still allowed.

“Despite the closure, Taiping Municipal Council continues to clean and maintain the site.

“The hill can only be opened after the Public Works Department completes repairing the slopes,” he said at the state assembly sitting in Ipoh.

Bukit Larut, which is only accessible to non-hikers through a 4WD service, has been closed to vehicles since 2019 due to landslide risks.

Loh added that a tender to repair the remaining slopes would be called in January.

“The work is estimated to cost RM8mil and is expected to be completed by 2025.

“It is important to make sure that the slopes are repaired before we allow visitors to use the houses on the hill or the 4WD vehicle service which was previously available.

“We want to ensure the safety of visitors and staff so only those who can hike will be able to go to the hill,” he added of the recreational area which is also known as Maxwell Hill.

On a separate matter, Perak health committee chairman A. Sivaneesan said the construction of the new Hutan Melintang health clinic had started.

In a reply to S. Wasanthee (PH-Hutan Melintang), Sivaneesan said the project had been listed under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

“The groundwork phase has been completed and now we are waiting for approval of the 12th Malaysia Plan Rolling Plan 3 before opening the tender.

“The clinic is expected to be completed by 2025,” he added.