PETALING JAYA: Hiking, trekking, and hill-climbing safety procedures should be reviewed and strengthened following a rise in incidents involving lost, injured, and deceased hikers, says the Alliance for a Safe Community.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said recent cases highlighted the risks of outdoor recreation in remote, challenging terrain, stressing that safety must remain the top priority.
He noted that search and rescue operations for missing hikers heavily drain manpower and resources from multiple agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department, police, and Civil Defence Force.
“These operations can stretch over several days and expose rescuers themselves to considerable risks,” he said in a statement on Monday (June 1).
To mitigate this, Lee proposed mandatory registration for hikers entering designated trails, alongside digital check-in and check-out systems so authorities can respond swiftly if hikers fail to return on schedule.
He also called for stricter requirements for licensed mountain guides on high-risk routes, regular safety audits of popular trails, and the installation of clearer directional signs, distance markers, and emergency location points.
“The use of GPS tracking applications, emergency beacons, drones, and geolocation systems must be used to improve rescue efforts," he said.
"In addition, I propose enhanced public education campaigns on safety, including the importance of avoiding solo hikes, monitoring weather, and bringing emergency communication devices.”
Lee further suggested creating a national database on hiking-related incidents to help authorities formulate evidence-based safety policies.
However, he emphasized that hikers must take personal responsibility, noting many incidents stem from poor preparation, ignoring weather warnings, or separating from groups.
“The objective is not to discourage hiking activities but to ensure that Malaysians can enjoy nature safely and responsibly,” he added, noting that enhanced preventive measures could drastically lower accident and fatality rates.
