No closure of camping sites in Selangor yet, guidelines being drawn up

 

The Dec 16 landslide involved 92 people at a campsite in Batang Kali, with 31 of them losing their lives. (Fire and rescue department pic)

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has yet to issue any order for camping sites in the state to close operations.

However, the state is now drafting guidelines following the landslide tragedy at Father’s Organic Farm campsite in Batang Kali recently, said menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

He said there was no need for the state government to panic.

“We will take measures and review this matter carefully because previously these camping sites did not need any licensing.

“So, we must take another look at the matter but not to the extent of shutting down these camping sites.

“We must look and act on the matter comprehensively. We can’t panic and make hasty decisions.

“That’s why I need reports,” he told reporters after attending the Gerak Gempur SPM 2022 capacity-building ceremony here today.

Amirudin said he was still waiting for a full report from the mineral and geoscience department (JMG) on the landslide incident, adding that the initial reports from JMG and the fire department indicated that the incident was caused by groundwater movement that started on higher ground.

Meanwhile, Sea of Cloud camping site owner KP Chong told Bernama that he would always monitor the ground conditions at the site to ensure the safety of visitors.

According to Chong, the camping site in Hulu Langat is also a durian orchard and receives around 40 to 50 customers at a time.

The Dec 16 landslide tragedy that shook the nation involved 92 victims, with 31 of them losing their lives. - FMT