Hiking accidents in Malaysia claim 63 lives over past five years

Malaysia has recorded 63 fatalities and 1,059 hiking accidents over the past five years, according to data presented to Parliament. Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh stated that between 2021 and 2025, these incidents also involved 87 injuries. The ministry acknowledges the seriousness of safety in forest recreation and climbing activities.

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The ministry, through the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, views seriously the safety aspects of forest recreation and climbing activities.

In response to these concerns, the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, has developed a national guideline for mountain risk assessment and management called MoGRAM. This guideline serves as a technical reference for evaluating risks and determining the carrying capacity of hiking trails. Furthermore, certified forestry mountain guides are now mandatory in 189 high-risk hiking locations.

To support these efforts, 2,322 individuals from local communities, including indigenous Orang Asli, have been trained and certified as guides. Their responsibilities include navigation, ensuring hiker safety, emergency response, and promoting adherence to proper hiking practices. In protected areas managed by the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, the ministry has adopted the international ISO 21101 standard for adventure tourism safety, which covers risk management, staff training, emergency protocols, and equipment maintenance.

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The guideline serves as the technical reference for cutting risk and managing how many hikers a trail can take at a time.

Additional safety measures include registration and entry permits at national park offices to maintain safety records and limit visitor numbers. Hikers are now required to undergo an initial health screening and obtain a medical certificate confirming their fitness for the intended trail. The ministry also enforces the use of certified nature guides, mandatory safety briefings, and public awareness programs for tourism operators. Trails are temporarily closed during the monsoon season to mitigate risks.

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Their role covers navigation, hiker safety, emergency response and compliance with proper hiking practices.

These safety initiatives are strengthened through collaboration with various agencies, including the police, rescue services, the Department of Standards Malaysia, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, and industry stakeholders. The focus is on ensuring that hiking trails are both safe and sustainable. The issue of hiking safety has gained renewed attention following several recent tragedies, including the case of a woman who went missing on Gunung Batu Putih in Tapah and was found after surviving in the jungle for nearly 14 days.

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The standard sets out how risks are managed, how staff are trained, how emergencies are handled and how equipment is maintained.