The Perak government has ordered an immediate suspension of hiking activities at Gunung Batu Putih for a period of three to six months.
In a broader context, the decision reflects growing concerns over hiking safety standards and the need to reassess procedures in popular forest recreational areas following recent incidents.
State Forestry Department director Basri Abdul Manaf confirmed that all climbing activities would be halted while safety assessments and rehabilitation work are carried out at the site.
He said the suspension period would allow authorities to evaluate safety conditions in the area and carry out necessary improvements, which are expected to take between three and six months.
Basri added that the department would also review standard operating procedures (SOP) for hiking activities, including determining appropriate cut-off times for forest expeditions in the state.
The decision comes in the wake of a missing person case involving 49-year-old hiker Jaslinda Saludin, who was reported missing on May 24 during a hiking expedition.
Jaslinda was part of a group of 14 hikers and two guides taking part in the Trans Spencer Chapman trek, which began in the early hours of May 23.
She was last seen by a mountain guide at around 7.30am after reportedly continuing towards the summit despite earlier experiencing health issues during the climb.
In a separate development, Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad said the Orang Asli community should be actively involved in search and rescue operations in forested areas due to their deep knowledge of local terrain and conditions.
