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KUALA LUMPUR, January 6: As of this year, the ratio of climber to guide for mountains over 1,500 feet or 457.2 m in Peninsular Malaysia is 7: 1.
Mohd Yussainy Md Yusop, director of the State Forest Park and Forest Ecopark at the Forest Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JPSM), said the new rule, which will be fully enforced next year, aims to improve safety and prevent the spread of COVID -19.
He said the state forest department will identify the areas in question.
However, he said mountaineers can still get a guide for the lower peaks as they will pay the expenses.
“So far, the Department of Forestry has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) four times for the reopening of eco-forests and forest parks … the SOP must remain to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“The ratio of one guide to seven climbers for 457.2 m high peaks is to allow the Forestry Department to control entry and exit. We want to use 2021 to raise awareness about the rule, and the application will start in 2022, ”he told Bernama.
According to the safety aspect, the Department of Forestry and the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) jointly run a course for guides from all over the country to improve their skills and knowledge, particularly on safety and fundamentals.
“This is vital for the forest and mountain guides who accompany the public. In the last 10 years, there have been more than 218 accidents and 128 deaths because the guides had not received training in forestry and rescue.
“So the course teaches basic forestry concepts like laws and plant identification for survival, while the JBPM security module is geared toward teaching emergency aid,” said Mohd Yussainy.
He added that the five-day course takes place every month in Malaysia starting in February and is aimed at young people and locals who have indigenous knowledge.
He said there have been 3,000 applications to join, which is a good sign that Malaysians are considering becoming guides, as jobs are being lost due to COVID-19.
JBPM Deputy Director (Operations) Datuk Abdul Wahab Mat Yasin said guides selected for the program will be trained as first responders to provide assistance until JBPM arrives.
“We will teach the guides the basics of search and rescue, first aid, how to get a victim to safety, high altitude rescue and navigation with a compass and map,” he said.- Bernama
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