FOLLOWING a string of hiking tragedies and 63 deaths recorded nationwide over the past five years, the government is tightening safety measures by making health screenings and medical fitness certification mandatory for hikers tackling designated trails.
Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) records for 2021 to 2025 also revealed that the deaths were from a total of 1,059 accidents, which also involved 87 injuries.
“Hikers must now undergo an early health screening and obtain a medical certificate confirming they are fit for the grade of trail they intend to attempt.”
Syed Ibrahim also said his ministry also enforces the use of certified nature guides, mandatory safety briefings, public awareness programmes for tourism operators and the temporary closure of trails during the monsoon season.
“This commitment is also strengthened through strategic cooperation with the police, JBPM, the Department of Standards Malaysia, the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and industry players to keep the country’s hiking trails safe and sustainable,” said Syed Ibrahim during Question Time yesterday.
“The ministry, through the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department and the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), views seriously the safety aspects of forest recreation and climbing activities,” he added.
Syed Ibrahim was replying to Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin), who asked about the number of accidents and deaths caused by hiking activities over the past five years.
According to Syed Ibrahim, the forestry department with funding from the United Nations Development Programme, had developed a national guideline for mountain risk assessment and management, or MoGRAM, as the technical reference for cutting risk and managing how many hikers a trail can take at a time.
“Certified forestry mountain guides have also been made compulsory by the department at 189 high-risk hiking areas,” he said.
Syed Ibrahim said so far, 2,322 people from local communities, including the Orang Asli, have been trained and certified as guides under a skills development programme, with a role that covers navigation, hiker safety, emergency response and compliance with proper hiking practices.
In protected areas run by Perhilitan, Syed Ibrahim said the ministry has adopted the international ISO 21101 standard for adventure tourism safety.
The standard sets out how risks are managed, how staff are trained, how emergencies are handled and how equipment is maintained. Registration and entry permits at national park offices are used to keep safety records and cap visitor numbers.
