KUALA LUMPUR: A National Mountain Guide Social Protection Scheme should be introduced to safeguard guides, or malim gunung, especially during risky expeditions, says Mersing MP Muhammad Islahuddin Abas.
Debating Budget 2026, he said most of the 3,200 registered mountain guides lack Perkeso cover, personal accident insurance and pension support.
“There are more than 1,200 mountain guides in Peninsular Malaysia and over 2,000 in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
“These people protect hikers’ lives, yet their own welfare remains unprotected,” added Muhammad Islahuddin.
He said in Parliament on Monday (Oct 27) that such a scheme is needed to safeguard them, build tourist confidence and uphold Malaysia’s image as a safe ecotourism destination.
Muhammad Islahuddin added the call follows a recent fatality at Gunung Liang that exposed weaknesses in mountain safety governance.
“These weaknesses include delayed reporting, patchy communication coverage and uncoordinated rescue efforts. The current system is still not operating in an integrated manner nationwide,” he added.
He highlighted rising rescue cases in natural recreational areas as evidence that safety governance must be strengthened.
“According to the Fire and Rescue Department, more than 32,000 special rescue operations were carried out nationwide up to July 2025,” he said.
“Over 3,700 incidents involved forests, hills and mountains. The Department also recorded an average 14% yearly increase in rescue operations at hiking sites,” added Muhammad Islahuddin.
Data from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia showed 852 hiking accidents between 2018 and 2021, including missing persons, injuries and deaths.
Muhammad Islahuddin said high risk routes include Gunung Tahan, Gunung Nuang, Gunung Yong Belar, Gunung Ledang and Gunung Liang.
He proposed a comprehensive upgrade to mountain hiking guidelines targeting four critical gaps.
These include non uniform emergency communication systems across states and forest parks.
He also cited the absence of a real time digital registry to track hiker and guide movements, adding that there is weak coordination between the Fire and Rescue Department, Nadma, the Forestry Department, the Tourism Ministry, police and local authorities.
He said there are no national guidelines for risk management in hiking and mountain activities.
Muhammad Islahuddin proposed channelling part of Nadma’s Budget 2026 allocation to mountain communication systems and integrated search and rescue control posts.
He also urged investment in tactical high altitude rescue training and suggested creating a National Hiking Log System, a centralised database to track hikers and guides throughout expeditions.
The lawmaker then said that the government must not wait for more tragedies before changing policy.
“Aspects of mountain safety, guide welfare and hiking community preparedness fall under disaster risk management. They must become national priorities. The safety of the people is not a choice,” he said.
“It is a moral responsibility and a trust placed upon the government,” added Mu
