MALAYSIA recorded 1,059 hiking accidents and 63 deaths since 2021. The government’s decision to tighten controls on hiking activities is therefore a welcome move to reduce accidents and the growing demand for costly search and rescue (SAR) operations.
The proposed restrictions on hikes in high-risk areas, mandatory Forestry Mountain Guides use, enhanced health screening, insurance requirements, and the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and GPS tracking represent a shift from reacting to emergencies towards preventing them. However, regulations alone cannot eliminate accidents.
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