PETALING JAYA: Safety procedures for hiking, trekking and hill climbing must be reviewed and strengthened following a rise in incidents involving lost, injured or deceased hikers, says Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
The Alliance for a Safe Community chairman said recent incidents had once again highlighted the risks associated with outdoor recreational activities, particularly in remote and challenging terrain.
As such, he stressed that safety must remain the top priority despite the benefits of hiking and climbing.
He noted that search and rescue operations for missing hikers often require significant manpower and resources from multiple agencies, including the Fire and Rescue Department, police, Forestry Department, Civil Defence Force, mountain guides, volunteers and local communities.
“These operations can stretch over several days and expose rescuers themselves to considerable risks,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Lee proposed mandatory registration for hikers entering designated trails, forests, hills and mountains, as well as the introduction of digital check-in and check-out systems.
He said this would enable authorities to respond quickly when hikers fail to return.
He also called for stricter requirements for licensed mountain guides on high-risk routes, as well as regular safety audits and risk assessments of popular trails.
This includes the installation of more directional signs, distance markers, emergency location points and warning notices, he added.
“The use of GPS tracking applications, emergency beacons, drones and geolocation systems should be expanded to improve rescue efforts.
“In addition, I propose enhanced public education campaigns on hiking safety, including the importance of avoiding solo hikes, monitoring weather conditions, carrying sufficient food and water, informing family members of travel plans and bringing emergency communication devices,” he said.
Lee also suggested the creation of a national database on hiking-related incidents to help authorities identify risk factors and formulate evidence-based safety policies.
He noted that hikers must take personal responsibility, adding that many incidents occur due to poor preparation, ignoring weather warnings, underestimating trail difficulties or becoming separated from their groups.
“The objective is not to discourage hiking activities but to ensure that Malaysians can enjoy nature safely and responsibly,” he said.
Lee added that strengthening preventive measures and reviewing the existing SOP could significantly reduce the number of such incidents.
