Malaysia is introducing stricter hiking regulations nationwide following a rise in search and rescue operations involving hikers who became lost or stranded, with authorities partly blaming risky social media trends.
According to the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, 52 cases of lost hikers were recorded during the first five months of 2026, marking an increase of nearly 30% compared to the same period last year.
Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said many incidents were linked to hikers underestimating the importance of proper preparation while attempting to follow popular social media trends.
He said the government’s priority is to reduce the number of hikers getting lost and prevent accidents that require costly and manpower-intensive search and rescue (SAR) operations.
Among the new measures, certified mountain guides will now be mandatory at 189 high-risk hiking locations across the country.
The government is also introducing stricter pre-hike screening requirements, including health declarations, medical history checks and mandatory insurance coverage for hikers.
In addition, so-called “compressed hikes”—where hikers attempt to complete challenging multi-day routes within a single day—have been banned at many high-risk mountain areas.
Syed Ibrahim said the trend has become increasingly popular on social media, where some hikers attempt to complete difficult climbs in the shortest possible time or aim to “bag” as many mountain peaks as possible for online content.
Earlier this year, Norimah Abd Karim, a member of an association of certified forestry mountain guides, warned that some hikers were prioritising social media content over safety.
She said some individuals carry only minimal equipment to appear like professional trail runners, even though they lack the experience or preparation needed for demanding hikes.
“There are hikers who focus more on creating interesting content that they are willing to take risks and neglect their own safety,” she said.
Authorities have not detailed how the nationwide ban on compressed hikes will be enforced, but some states have already announced they will reject applications for such activities, while others have introduced minimum climbing durations of several days for certain mountain routes.
Malaysia currently requires hikers to obtain permits before entering state parks and forest reserves, and officials say the new rules are aimed at improving safety while reducing the growing burden on emergency rescue teams.
