KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — A comprehensive review of existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for hiking, trekking and hill-climbing activities nationwide is needed following the rising number of incidents involving hikers and climbers, Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.

He said recent cases of hikers going missing, sustaining injuries or losing their lives have once again highlighted the risks associated with hiking and hill-climbing activities, particularly in remote and challenging terrain.

While describing outdoor recreation as a healthy activity that should be encouraged, Lee stressed that safety must remain the top priority.

“I urge the relevant authorities to undertake a comprehensive review of the existing SOPs, including considering measures such as mandatory registration of hikers before entering designated trails, forests, hills and mountains.

“Other measures include improving monitoring systems through digital check-in and check-out mechanisms to ensure authorities are immediately alerted when hikers fail to return as scheduled, as well as imposing stricter requirements for licensed mountain guides on challenging and high-risk routes,” he said in a statement today.

Lee also proposed periodic safety audits and risk assessments of popular hiking trails to identify hazards such as landslides, fallen trees, damaged pathways, poor signage and dangerous terrain, as well as the installation of more directional signs, distance markers, emergency location points and warning notices along hiking routes.

He said greater use of technology, including GPS tracking applications, emergency beacons, drones and geolocation systems, could facilitate rapid rescue efforts, while public education campaigns should emphasise the importance of avoiding solo hikes, checking weather conditions, carrying sufficient supplies and informing family members of travel plans.

Lee also proposed the development of a national database on hiking-related incidents to help authorities to better understand risk factors and formulate evidence-based safety policies.

At the same time, he reminded hikers to exercise personal responsibility, noting that many incidents occur because individuals underestimate trail difficulty, ignore weather warnings, fail to prepare adequately or venture into unfamiliar areas without guides.

“Every preventable tragedy should serve as a lesson for all stakeholders. The objective is not to discourage hiking activities but to ensure that Malaysians can enjoy nature safely and responsibly,” he said.

The activist also noted that search and rescue (SAR) operations for missing hikers often involve substantial manpower and resources from the Fire and Rescue Department, the Royal Malaysia Police, Forestry Department, Civil Defence Force, mountain guides, volunteers and local communities.

He said such operations can stretch over several days and expose rescuers to considerable risks.

In a recent case, a 19-year-old girl who went missing while descending Bukit Changkat Asa in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor was found dead on Wednesday after a four-day SAR operation. — Bernama